By DEWEY TERRILL
JC Post

On the 154th anniversary of the day that marked the end of the Civil War, the Junction City Rotary Club dedicated their centennial project.

On Tuesday the dedication ceremony was held in Heritage Park for reproductions of the memorial plaques that have been placed adjacent to the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Memorial Arch. Rotary Club President Noel Park said after three-plus years this day has additional meaning to the community. “On this date 154 years ago was the date of the end of the Civil War. This was an end to a terrible time of division in this country. After that time this Arch was erected as a reminder of that period in history.

The chair of the Club’s 100th anniversary committee, Mary Hogan, said 2017 was the club’s 100th year anniversary. She did some research on the possibility of restoring the Arch. The Arch had to be put on historical preservation lists.

“We noticed that we could not replace the plaques because it was on the list, we can’t touch the art so we decided to recreate the plaques on a pedestal behind the Arch,” she said.

Rotary Club Past President Karen Carroll said this is a three-part process including placement of the Arch on state and national historical registers, raising funds to recreate the plaques, and the third project which still must be completed….the restoration of the Arch.

“We have shared information with the City on how to apply for a restoration grant through the state of Kansas. We have also set up a tax-deductible account with the Geary County Historical Endowment Fund so monies may be collected,” she said. “We encourage all of you to donate to this great cause.”

There are also buttons available for purchase, similar to the original campaign undertaken by community forefathers to build the Arch.

“We will raise the money one lucky penny at a time,” Carroll said.