Healing Fields of Central Iowa Do you remember where you were 5 years ago? At 8:46 a.m. on September 11, 2001, a chain of events was set in motion that within 2 short hours, would take the lives of nearly 3000 people in a horrific act of cowardice. That fateful day America witnessed the inexpressible, the incomprehensible, and the unthinkable. The first positive image to come out of the terror that awful day was the American Flag. Since then, our role as Americans has been to make sure that the memories of those dreadful events will never fade; and in the capacity, our flag has been a comfort to all of us. The Healing Field of Central Iowa was a place where people could experience and comprehend the gravity of 9/11. Located at 5700 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines at the Homesteaders Life facility, Homesteaders Life wa on of the 24 communities who provided the Healing Fields. At the Healing Fields, you could purchase any of the 2998 flags with proceeds from all the flag sales going to the Hospice of Central Iowa and the Funeral Service Foundation. In addition, $1.00 from each flag went to the prevention of child abuse through the Healing Fields Charitable Foundation. Many corporation, businesses and individuals helped to sponsor, provide and donate to make the Healing Fields of Central Iowa to become a reality. Watts Vault & Monument Company was one of them. We were able to provide a piece of granite that was approximately 3 ½ feet long by 2 ½ feet wide by 2 feet tall weighing in at about 3000 lbs. Trigard Bronze in Danville, IL provided the bronze plaque that was mounted on the granite. On Sunday, September 10, a reception was held for all the sponsors and individual that helped make the Healing Fields possible. Angie Watts and Dave Schiebel accepted a miniature Trigard Bronze plaque of the Healing Fields on behalf of Watts Vault & Monument Company. Only 4 miniature plaques were awarded. We were very honored to be able to except such an award. On Monday, September 11, at 10:00 a.m. there was a dedication ceremony. Many people from surrounding towns and states attended. Governor Tom Vilsack spoke along with Congressman Leonard Boswell. It was a remarkable ceremony. As we look back on September 11, 2001, it is a day that no one will ever forget. It brings much sorrow to many families and all those it affected. We can only hope that young children and other of their generations will grow up to remember what this day was all about and contribute to greater world peace, tolerance and understanding.

Tiffin Veteran’s Memorial This memorial was designed to honor all veterans from the Mexican War of 1846 up to the present. The memorial was dedicated during the 100 year centennial of Tiffin, IA. on July 1, 2006. On the back will be two bronze plaques with the names of all the veterans from the Tiffin area that will tell which war they were in, branch of service and rank. The project was directed by U.S Army Major General (Retired) Robert Sentman, who worked together with Don Welch of Watts Vault & Monument in designing this memorial. The public response according to Robert Sentman, has been astounding and beyond what he had hoped for. This war memorial is located in a city park just north of Highway 6 as you enter Tiffin from the east.