City of Hannibal holds dedication for veterans, unveils new memorial

HANNIBAL (WGEM) - The city of Hannibal held a dedication ceremony on Saturday to honor members of the armed forces who put their lives on the line to serve the United States.

The ceremony at Cardiff Hill Overlook Park featured the completion of a new veterans memorial that has been in the works for the past four years. It costs more than $65,000.

It includes a bell from the U.S.S. Hannibal, which the U.S. Navy built in 1898, as well as bricks with names of service members.

Veterans Services Committee chairman Pansy Kolb said she is proud to have a memorial in Hannibal.

“For our younger people to see that is a thing to do, you need to say thank you because without the veterans that aren’t here, or even now, this country would never be,” Kolb said.

The ceremony began with a procession of the American Legion Color Guard, followed by the national anthem, a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps. There was also a veteran guest speaker.

Hannibal resident Don Harvey attended Hannibal’s veteran’s memorial ceremony. He was part of the Quincy National Guard Unit that fought in Vietnam in 1968.

“I think it’s wonderful and God sure smiled on us today with this beautiful weather,” Harvey said.

Harvey purchased one of the over 380 bricks at the memorial to commemorate his father-in-law who was a prisoner of war in World War II.

“He was a prisoner of war for 73 days and escaped from a work farm all by himself,” he said.

Hannibal resident Tana Akright said the ceremony was a nice way to honor veterans, including her husband.

“It is very nice,” Akright said. “I know that my husband thinks that this is the most wonderful thing that he’s ever attended.”

If you would like to purchase a brick at the memorial, you can find the order form here.

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