On November 11, 2013, Veteran’s Day, the East Lansing Rotary participated in the Medal of Honor Monument dedication ceremony. Rotarian Pat Boog took the lead on this project, working closely with the City of East Lansing to raise the funds and develop the actual memorial monument.
The monument will serve as a permanent memorial for 2nd Lt. Skinner, one of only two Medal of Honor recipients in the Tri-County Region since the Civil War. The plan is to expand the area in future years to incorporate a Veterans Garden honoring all veterans. Several members of the East Lansing Rotary Club attended a special luncheon prior to the ceremony, and some of them who were veterans donned their uniforms as a sign of respect to Lt. Skinner.
Shortly after the Medal of Honor dedication the East Lansing Rotary voted to continue in service to this project by committing to raise the funds needed to make the Veteran’s Garden a reality. The site of the Medal of Honor monument and future gardens is on the grounds at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing.
Also attending on this blustery day was a Marine Honor Guard and singers from the East Lansing High School chorale group, the EL Singers.