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Veterans memorial remains in works

Cumberland Times-News - 2/25/2019

Feb. 25-- Feb. 25--FRIENDSVILLE -- The Friendsville Veterans Memorial Committee continues to seek donations for a proposed memorial that will honor the town's fallen soldiers.

About $45,000 of the $350,000 needed has been raised so far, said Bob Hensley, district commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

"We are plugging along just trying to raise money," said Hensley, who also serves as president of the committee.

The memorial will honor six servicemen from Friendsville who were killed during the Vietnam War.

Danny E. Nicklow, Ross Fike, Charles W. Hook, Roger Garlick, Norman E. Thomas and Thomas Fike died between 1966 and 1971.

At that time, Friendsville had a population of a little more than 600, said Hensley. That was one of the nation's highest per-capita wartime casualty rates.

The first phase of the memorial project includes construction of an octagon centerpiece that will be engraved with the faces of the six fallen veterans. Each of their names will be etched into the centerpiece, which will be surrounded by 12 flags -- six American, four to represent branches of the military, one POW/MIA flag and one state of Maryland flag.

A half moon-shaped brick wall will outline the centerpiece and be filled with memorial bricks for veterans of any war.

The committee has been holding various fundraisers.

"The Friendsville Volunteer Fire Department has been tremendous. They have offered us their facilities to have fundraisers at no charge," said Hensley.

To donate or purchase a brick, mail a check to P.O. Box 245, Friendsville, MD 21531.

Follow staff writer Elaine Blaisdell on Twitter @eblaisdell.

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