June 2016 Bandstand Flag Notice‏

Ralph Dwight Lockard

October 8, 1932 – October 26, 2015

Sergeant

United States Army

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The flag flying over the bandstand during the month of June is in honor of Ralph Dwight Lockard.

Ralph was inducted into the Army, November 18, 1952, in Des Moines, Iowa. He was assigned to Company F with the 31st Infantry Regiment and served 13 months in Korea as a platoon leader. Upon his discharge, November 17, 1954, he was awarded the Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, a Combat Infantry Badge, and a Good Conduct Medal.

After his discharge, Ralph returned to Mahaska County and returned to farming. In 1965, he began working for Standard Oil selling fertilizer. He remained with Standard Oil until 1971, when he again returned to farming. Following his retirement from farming in 1980, he went to work for the New Sharon Co-op and later worked as a hired man for Larry De Gooy with his farming operation.

If you are interested in flying the flag of a veteran above the bandstand, contact Shawn Langkamp at Garland-VanArkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel at 641-672-2181 or www.gvlfuneralchapel.com Contact Us Link.