Jared Reedy, Aim Hometown Innovations Contributor
Huntingburg is a picturesque city located in Dubois County, Indiana, 20 miles north of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari. The city is well known for its charming and historic commercial district that encompasses 46 buildings, several of which feature elements of Italianate and Romanesque Revival architecture. Additionally, Huntingburg is known as one of the primary filming locations for A League of Their Own (1992), starring Geena Davis, Madonna, and Tom Hanks. The fictitious Rockford Peaches’ home games were filmed at Huntingburg’s League Stadium, currently home to the Dubois County Bombers of the collegiate summer Ohio Valley League.
On April 28th, a special exhibit is coming to Huntingburg. The Global War on Terror Memorial Flag will be traveling to Indiana for the first time. The memorial pays tribute to veterans who have paid the ultimate sacrifice defending our nation against foreign and domestic terrorism. It will be on display at the entrance of Market Street Park amidst the Garden Gate Festival. Veterans and Athletes United, a non-profit organization managed by veterans, completed the first rendition of the flag in 2018. It has since traveled to more than sixty locations across the United States.
The 28-by-6-foot flag is a wall comprised of over 7,000 dog tags colored red, white, and blue. It resembles an American flag draped over a fallen service member’s casket. Fifty gold stars honor families who have lost a loved one while serving. The tags were installed alphabetically until December 31, 2017, and are now arranged chronologically in order of the date Killed in Action (KIA).
“Unfortunately, we have two members of our county community who have names on the wall, which makes it even more personal,” Mayor Steve Schwinghamer shared.
Marine Corporal Eric Lueken and Lance Corporal Alec Terwiske are the two fallen heroes and Dubois County natives represented on the wall.
It was Mayor Schwinghamer’s idea to bring the memorial to Indiana, having contacted Veterans and Athletes United himself after seeing the flag on display in New York City.
The memorial is a stunning reminder of the sacrifices made by our nation’s greatest heroes. It will be on display in Huntingburg from April 28th-April 30th. The exhibit is funded by Veterans and Athletes United and proceeds go directly to Gold Star family organizations and the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation.