ABOVE: Armin Kronback, Barb Kronback, Chris Griffin, David Leiding, Jon Beckman and Doug Willner stand at the Veterans Memorial Garden on Tuesday at the City Park in Ceylon. The project was completed on Saturday, Aug. 2, and aims to recognize the services of all area veterans.

CEYLON — The Helping Hands of Ceylon nonprofit organization is honoring local veterans with a recently-completed Veterans Memorial Garden, displayed at City Park in Ceylon.

The memorial garden includes potted flowers, a stone plaque by the Blue Earth Monument Inc., which reads ‘To Honor and Remember, All Veterans Who Served, In The Armed Forces of the United States of America’ and a metal statue by Ellen Kling that depicts a veteran, beside the United States of America, Minnesota and Prisoners of War/Missing in Action flags.

“The Helping Hands of Ceylon has been going on for three years, and we try to really give back to the community and help with different projects in town” said Helping Hands of Ceylon Member Barb Kronback.

“There wasn’t anything in town that represented veterans,” added Member Chris Griffin.

The idea sparked to the Helping Hands of Ceylon last fall while pondering improvements to the former garden plots. Following approval from the city to make a veteran tribute, the organization immediately got to work, making connections and hosting various fundraisers and events that brought attention to the Veteran Memorial Garden.

Kronback and Griffin stated that completing the project was very fulfilling. The Helping Hands of Ceylon group hopes the tribute will inspire remembrance, pride and gratitude in veterans, veterans’ families and civilians.

“It feels great to see it,” said David Leiding, a veteran and contributor from Ceylon. “It’s a great project for the veterans.”

“The memorial makes you realize how much the veterans sacrificed so that we may live freely in this town, country and Earth. It’s a privilege to honor them with this memorial,” added Doug Willner, a contributor from Fairmont.

Even though it’s been less than a week since the Veteran Memorial Garden’s completion, Healing Hands of Ceylon has received a generous amount of positive feedback, reported by Kronback and Griffin.

Families are welcome to bring a stone in remembrance of a veteran to the memorial. At night, a light will illuminate the memorial display. Adding a bench in front of the memorial and upgrading the nearby playground equipment are both considered to further improve the park’s atmosphere. Griffin and Kronback noted that with the 125th Anniversary of Ceylon celebrations approaching, community engagement with the Veterans Memorial Garden is anticipated.

“The project looks very nice, everyone did a good job,” remarked Jon Beckman of Federated Rural Electric, which supported the project. “We at Federated Rural Electric like seeing small community projects like this. Projects like this stand out to me.”

According to Griffin and Kronback, the project is also made possible by Bettin Trucking in Fairmont, Portage Bank of Ceylon, Welcome American Legion and various volunteers.

Helping Hands of Ceylon consists of three members, Kronback, Griffin and Judith Perkins. The group accepts dedicated new members and volunteers to help carry out its mission. Future project suggestions will be accepted for consideration, as stated by Griffin.

Donations to support the Helping Hands of Ceylon can be delivered to P.O. Box 202, Ceylon, Minn. 56131, or to Griffin or Kronback. For additional information about the group, contact helpinghandsofceylon10@gmail.com.