April 19, 2024

AFSCME donates $2,500 to veterans monument

By Daily News

Front row (from left): Jasper County Treasurer Doug Bishop, World War II veteran Bob Thorson, Executive Board Member Mike Gass and AFSCME Local 0451 President Jerry Jones. Second row: Recording Secretary Sarah Zaruba, Marvin Morris, Newton American Legion Post 111 Commander Marta Ford and AFSCME Local 0451 Secretary/Treasurer Lindsey Burke-Howell. Back row: Keith Thorpe, Wally Schermerhorn and Jasper County Veteran’s Affairs Director Chris Chartier. (Submitted Photo)

AFSCME Local 0451 donated $2,500 toward a veteran’s monument Wednesday that will be placed on the courthouse square in Newton. The monument will honor fallen veterans.

“It is important to honor our fallen veterans. This monument will help ensure that future generations of Jasper County residents never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country,” said AFSCME Local 0451 President Jerry Jones.

Attached to this release is a photo of the check presentation for the donation. Included in the photo are AFSCME Local 0451 President Jerry Jones, Jasper County Treasurer Doug Bishop, AFSCME Local 0451 members, and members of the Veterans’ Committee of Jasper County.

Every Jasper County resident who has been killed in action will be placed on the memorial at no charge. The project is being led by Jasper County Treasurer Doug Bishop. No public funds are being used for the project.

In Iowa, AFSCME Iowa Council 61 represents 40,000 public employees and private sector employees. AFSCME Local 0451 represents employees at the Newton Correctional Facility and at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville, which are part of the Iowa Department of Corrections.