Greene Co Veterans Affairs Director Michael Bierl spoke of original ceremony for Floyd Brown

A public ceremony will take place later this week to honor a fallen Greene County military veteran.

The Greene County Veterans Affairs Office and the American Legion Post #198 in Churdan will dedicate a photo and the biography of the post’s namesake Edward English. The event will take place Thursday at 10am in the south lobby of the Greene County Courthouse in Jefferson. English served as a motor machinist’s mate on the USS Scorpion submarine during the 1940s. The vessel was confirmed missing in action on February 22, 1944, after it was believed to have been the victim of a Japanese mine. English was declared dead on January 11, 1946 at 23 years old.  

Greene County Veterans Affairs Director Michael Bierl says the Greene County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution in 2019 for a permanent display of World War I veteran Floyd W. Brown, American Legion Post #11 in Jefferson’s namesake. The resolution was then amended to allow for English to be on permanent display. Bierl reminds everyone why they wanted to have something like this to honor fallen veterans.

“And this is a permanent way to honor those veterans who gave their life, like Floyd Brown. So folks coming to visit the courthouse can a minute there out front and just ponder on what was given for our freedoms here in our country.”

Bierl points out there is a rotating photo display as well with other military veterans. He urges anyone who would like to apply for a local military veteran that either was killed in action or died of wounds to contact him at the courthouse at 515-386-5673. Thursday’s ceremony is free and open to the public.