Hinsdale Legion Monument Showing Its Age After 75 Years

The Hinsdale Legion Monument has been standing in Legion Park for 75 years and it's starting to show its age. In order to preserve the monument and ensure the sacrifices of local veterans are remembered for future generations in the community and beyond, the Hinsdale Fall Festival committee has transformed into the Save the Monument committee to raise funds to not only make repairs but also preserve the monument for the future.

"When one walks up to the monument, it is apparent that chunks of mortar are falling off on all sides. It truly is crumbling. Very little has been needed to maintain the monument in 75 years but it is now showing its age," stated Kristine Bowman, a member of the Save the Monument committee.

The start of raising funds to repair the monument started last year during Hinsdale's annual Fall Festival, of which $700 was raised in addition to some private donations that have been received since the event was held. As a result of COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines, the committee has decided to put all efforts into saving the monument and instead hold a Pie Social to continue to raise funds.

The social will be held on Sunday, Oct. 18, from 2 to 5 p.m., at Hinsdale's Legion Park, with the Legion Hall as a back-up venue in the event of inclement weather. The committee invites everyone to come, view the monument and enjoy pie. Whole pies can be purchased for $75, with pre-orders preferred, while a pie by the slice will be for a suggested donation of $19.45, which will also include a monument souvenir. If preferred, there is the option to order a pie to be picked up or delivered. In addition to pies, there will also be "Monumental Memories" t-shirts available to order, with the logo designed by Sonja Johnson and Bowman.

"The committee will be mindful of your health as we prepare for this event. There will be plenty of room in the park (or hall)," explained Bowman.

The hope in fundraising efforts for the cause is to raise more than $5,000 in order to clean the monument, remove loose mortar, fix the mortar and seal the monument in addition to building a pyramid to be set on top to shed water and better preserve the monument, once all of the repairs are made. The plan is to have the funds raised and have the repairs completed before the 2021 All-School Reunion and Milk River Days next summer.

"We have tremendous support from Legion and Auxiliary members and other community members as well. 2020 is perfect timing as the monument is 75 years old!," said Bowman.

According to Legion scrapbooks compiled by Mel Carter and other dedicated auxiliary members in addition to current American Legion members of the Willie L. Nelson Post 45, the monument was first constructed in 1945 on an empty plot of ground utilizing native rocks. Bowman stated the rocks were from the Hinsdale area, with the cement, gravel and sand purchased and hauled by Hinsdale Dray Line, based upon her research into the history of the monument.

Based upon meeting minutes from Oct. 22, 1945, Legion members decided the basis for eligibility of the names to be placed on the Memorial, which included being a member of the post as well as a student of the Hinsdale Public School. At a later meeting, a member stated the listed names should be only those wounded or killed, which resulted in the front side of the Memorial being designated to those individuals with their names placed on the bronze tablet.

Improvements to the park were completed in 1957, including the planting of grass and trees, the building of fence and sidewalks. The community gathered together to celebrate the improvements with a Memorial Day dedication ceremony of the monument and park in 1957.

For those who would like to make a straight donation to the cause, checks can be mailed to American Legion Post #45, c/o Jim Tollefson, PO Box 45, Hinsdale MT 59241 with a note of Monument Repairs. For questions regarding the cause and to place pre-order pie orders contact Leona Knutson at Sweet Memories at 406-364-2128 or Bowman at 406-263-5490.