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Mike & Adelee Drake are presented with a Patriot Award by the Board of Commissioners and Dennis Withers. The Drakes contributed countless volunteer hours towards making the "In God We Trust" Vietnam War penny memorial a reality.
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(The following article was published in the May 14th edition of the Cañon City Daily RecordJ
The Board of Fremont County Commissioners on Tuesday presented two Patriot Awards to local individuals for their service and dedication to the Col. Leo S. Boston War Memorial Park. Mike and Adelee Drake and Sgt. John Fandry were recognized for their work, and most recently, the completion of the "In God We Trust" penny memorial monument at the park. Mike, who is leaving the committee, said his wife, Adelee, sorted through about two million pennies to find those with the specific dates required for the project. "Between the two of them, they put in more than thousands of hours," said Dennis Withers, War Memorial Committee member and Vietnam veteran. Mike said he plans to archive stories about those who gave pennies toward the project, including a homeless man.
Fandry also was presented with a Patriot Award that was signed by a previous board of commissioners. Withers said Fandry was responsible for procuring the aircraft that is on display at the memorial park.
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Sgt. John Fandry, second from left, is recognized during Tuesday's Board of Fremont County Commissioners meeting for his dedication to the Fremont County War Memorial Park. Also pictured are commissioners Debbie Bell, Ed Norden and Tim Payne and and War Memorial Committee member and Vietnam veteran Dennis Withers. (Photos courtesy of Carie Canterbury--Daily Record)