Plaque set at flagpole in Williams park to honor veterans

The American flag will fly at half-staff on Sunday at the downtown park in Williams — waving above a new plaque that memorializes US servicemen and women.

"In honor of the men and women who have served our country," reads the bronze plaque, which was placed at the foot of the flagpole on Thursday — only minutes after the City Council officially approved the wording.

There will be no formal Veterans Day dedication, but residents are encouraged to drop by and remember the sacrifices so many service members have made over the years.

The council voted 4-0, with Councilwoman Angela Plachek-Fulcher absent, to put the final official nod on the flag pole project.

City Manager Chuck Bergson said the total cost will be about $3,000, although all the bills and labor costs have not been tabulated.

The project started within the community, some members of which thought Williams lacked a site where the military personnel were honored.

The topic has taken on extra meaning in the small farming town, which lost one of its sons in Afghanistan in August 2011 and had another severely injured just months ago.

But it is not the only flagpole in town that honors servicemen and women.

The flagpole at the old Veterans Hall, now being converted into a community center, is also dedicated to those who served.

It is specifically dedicated to M.P. "Bunk" Wallace, a World War I veteran, whom the now-defunct VFW post was named after as well.