(KNZA)--A monument will be dedicated, and ballfield renamed, in honor of a Sabetha native who became the first Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps in 1957.
A dedication ceremony for the newly constructed Sgt. Major Wilbur Bestwick memorial will take place Saturday afternoon, beginning at 2:00, at Sabetha’s Somerset Park on North 6th Street.
The baseball field at Somerset Park will also be officially renamed and dedicated Wilbur Bestwick Field in honor of the local hero.
U.S. Senator Pat Roberts plans to attend the dedication ceremony. Roberts is the most senior Marine in the Senate and founder of the U.S. Senate Marine Corps Caucus.
The public is invited to attend and encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
Bestwick enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1934. He served as Sergeant Major until his retirement from active duty in 1959. Bestwick served in World War II and the Korean War. He died in July 1972.
A committee that included members of the Bestwick family, Sabetha American Legion, Sabetha VFW and Sabetha Chamber of Commerce worked to make the monument a realty.
An American Flag and Marine Corps Flag, which will be illuminated at all times, grace the limestone monument.
© Many Signals Communications
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Horton man arrested following weekend shooting
Hiawatha man facing sex, drug charges waives prelim hearing
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison
Two arrested Thursday in Jackson Co on meth-related charges
Jackson Co crash confirmed as fatality
Jackson Co traffic stop leads to arrest
Ground Broken for new Sac and Fox Trad'n Post
One held for past Atchison shooting
Inmate dies at Lansing Correctional Facility
Early Thursday storms leave damage, outages, locally
Mound City Mayor Duane Nauman remembered
MO grass fire battled Thursday
Community Healthcare System hires new CEO
Brown Co Planning Commission established
Falls City School Board approves personnel moves and purchases
Valley Falls' future set for Wednesday eve discussion
LATEST STORIES
Jackson Co crash confirmed as fatality
90 mph+ downburst winds blamed for Thursday damage
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Rates to increase at Brown Co landfill
NOAA weather radio event set in Seneca
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison