MEMORIAL DAY ESSAY — Members of the Russell-Toycen American Legion Post 131 presented a check May 6 to Colfax High School student Paige Jensen for her first place essay in the American Legion’s essay contest on “What Memorial Day Means to Me.” Paige will read her essay at the Memorial Day Ceremony May 30 at Colfax Evergreen Cemetery, and her essay will be published in the June 8 Colfax Messenger. From left: Tom Dunbar, Chris Larson, Paige Jensen, Kathy Walters and Dick Larson. —photo by LeAnn R. Ralph
By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — The Colfax High School student who won first place in the Russell-Toycen American Legion Post 131’s essay contest will be the featured speaker at the Memorial Day Ceremony May 30 at Evergreen Cemetery in Colfax.
Paige Jensen received first place in the essay contest on the theme “What Memorial Day Means to Me.”
In addition to being the featured speaker on Memorial Day, Jensen will receive a check for $100.
Second place in the essay contest, along with a check for $50, went to Emilee Burcham-Scofield.
Third place in the contest, along with a check for $25, went to Miranda Knutson.
The Colfax Messenger will publish all three essays in the June 8 edition of the newspaper.
The Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 30, from Colfax High School to Evergreen Cemetery for the 11 a.m. program.
A trailer will be available for Legion and Auxiliary members.
Also participating in the parade will be the bands from Colfax High School and Colfax Middle School.
Flagpole plaque
Following the ceremony at Colfax Evergreen Cemetery, there will be a dedication ceremony for the replacement plaque on the flagpole at J.D. Simons Memorial Park.
J.D. Simons Memorial Park is located at the intersection of state Highway 40 and Highway 170, just east of the 170 bridge over the Red Cedar River.
The original solid bronze plaque had been displayed on the base of the flagpole when the flagpole was in the triangle at the intersection of state Highway 170 and University Avenue.
The 12-inch by 18-inch plaque read: Dedicated to the Soldiers and Sailors of All Wars. Orrin Russell Post No. 131 American Legion. May 30, 1929.
When Highway 40 was reconstructed in 2004, the flagpole was moved to what is now J.D. Simons Memorial Park a few feet south of where the triangle used to be.
At the time the flagpole was moved, the American Legion’s bronze plaque was removed so it could be cleaned.
Tainter Machine cleaned the plaque in 2004 and returned it to the Village of Colfax — but the plaque has not been seen since.
In October of 2021, the Colfax Village Board approved contracting with Citizen Bronze out of Miami, Florida, to make a replica of the American Legion plaque.
Troy Knutson, one of Colfax’s historians, had been searching for the plaque because he wanted to see it reinstalled on the flagpole.
Knutson coordinated the effort to have a replacement plaque made and arranged to have the dedication ceremony on Memorial Day at J.D. Simons Memorial Park.
