I heard the most amazing story come out of RAGBRAI® when it stopped in Harlan this past Sunday [July 20, 2008].

There was a young man who bicycled in the event and upon arriving in Harlan, began asking anyone he saw, "How far is Earling, IA" from here?  And everyone would tell him how far it was [Thirteen Miles].  Then he began to ask if someone would please take him there for he was desperate to visit a dear, old friend who lived there.  Finally a farmer who lived somewhere near Earling said he would take him as he needed to get back to check on his farm.

 

The farmer asked the young man, "Where does your friend live in Earling."  The young man replied, "I'm not sure, but I'll know it when I see it."

 

Upon arriving in Earling, the young man asked the farmer to take him through town to find where his friend was.  The farmer took him directly to the place the young man had asked and the young man got out and walked across the lawn to the right spot. 

 

In front of this young man was a cemetery marker for "Lt. Col. Paul J. Finken".

The young man had served with Paul in the war and NEEDED to pay his respects...

Brings tears to my eyes - there is so much honor, yet so much pain in the armed forces.  May God watch over them all...and bring them all home safely.

As many of you know, on November 2, 2006, we lost our dear friend and classmate, Lt. Colonel Paul Finken in Iraq.  Many of our classmates made their journey through school from kindergarten all the way through graduation with him; others of us had the great fortune of knowing him in our high school years.  We all have our own “best” memories of Paul:  Paul the twin, Paul the comedian, Paul the athlete, Paul the soldier, Paul the husband, Paul the father, and through it all, Paul the friend.  As Father Berner said at his funeral, “Paul, I am a better {man} for having known you.”

 As a tribute to Paul from the Class of 1984, we have set up an account to collect donations for a monument in his honor. We plan to collect the money over the next few months. Early estimates say it will take up to four months to complete.  The size and type of monument will depend on the amount of money we collect. Any amount that you are able to send will be appreciated. The monument will be placed in Earling.  If there is any money left after the project is complete, it will be given to Paul’s wife, Jackie, and his three daughters.

Please make checks to:   Paul Finken Monument Fund and send to:

Farmer’s Trust & Savings Bank

c/o Paul Finken Class of ‘84

PO Box 285

Earling, IA 51530-0285

Thank you very much for your support.

Please note there is also a Paul Finken Memorial Fund set up for his wife and children. In order to contribute to the monument, please make your checks to:

Paul Finken Monument Fund
and c/o Paul Finken Class of ‘84.

ABOVE IS A LETTER SENT TO THE CLASS OF 1984, HARLAN COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL, HARLAN, IOWA.  YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF 1984 TO CONTRIBUTE.  ALL DONATIONS WILL BE GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED.

Click here to donate online!