A time to remember

Visitors to Morningside Estates in Hartley have a chance to reflect on the military service of local veterans as soon as they step foot inside the facility.

Billie Geerdes, who lives in Morningside Estates, organized a photograph collection of the husbands of women who live in the apartment complex. The spread features pictures of seven military veterans from O'Brien and Clay counties, as well as special items like a Quilt of Valor, an American flag and flowers.

For Geerdes, it was the least she could do.

"I just wanted to honor them," she said. "Sometimes people forget."

The Quilt of Valor was given to Geerdes in honor of her late husband, Harlan, who died in 2018. It was one of 43 quilts made by Neila Rohan, of Everly, who created the blankets in 2019 to pay homage to local veterans' sacrifices.

Veterans featured in the Morningside Estates display include: Bernard Kas, Harlan Geerdes, Robert Gathman, Wilfred Gaudian, Wayne Rossman, Melvin Richter and Dennis Harms. Rossman still lives in Morningside Estates.

Geerdes recalled her husband's service in the Korean War in 1950-51, where he served as a B.A.R. gunner in the Army. She also noted the current service of her grandson, Jacob Elliot, who is stationed in Japan.

The Hartley woman plans to keep the display up until mid-June.

"I just thought it would be a nice thing to do," she said. "It was a pleasure doing it."