Fundraising efforts for to install an “Iron Mike” statue in Soldotna Creek Park have been ongoing since last summer, with a local third grader recently leading an endeavor to help.
KSRM’s Merrill Sikorski interviewed Haedyn Horstman who goes to K-Beach Elementary School and was told about the project by a local VFW member.
Horstman: “He’s showed me his little replica of the original Iron Mike statue and he told me about it and eventually we left. Before we were even out of their driveway I asked my mom if I could help with the project and she said yes.”
Sikorski: “And why did you want to help raise money for a statue?”
Horstman: “I just wanted to do something nice for the veterans.”
Horstman sold gifts out of the brand Thirty-One catalog to members of his school, neighborhood, and family, as well as organized a lemonade stand to raise $1,646.
George Walters with the VFW had shared the story about Iron Mike with Horstman, and said he was surprised and honored when the third grader brought an envelope of money for the statue.
Iron Mike is a de facto name of monuments honoring service men and women; the original statue was designed by Leah Hiebert in the 1950’s and placed outside of Ft. Bragg.
The placement of the statue in the Park was approved by Soldotna City Council last year, after which local veteran organizations began fundraising efforts based on donations. The deadline to raise the approximately $48,000 needed for the statue is July 4.
Horstman’s efforts were added to the approximately $19,000 that the community has raised so far.
