Even amidst construction work on the Loup River Bridge in Columbus, a crowd sat in silent reverence mere yards away at the Andrew Jackson Higgins Memorial.

The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars held flags, local military members and community figures respectfully stood as a wreath was dedicated to military members past and present.

Typically, wreath dedications will take place on holidays like Memorial or Veterans days, but Thursday was a special occasion in itself — the ceremony commemorated a partnership between the City of Columbus and the Nebraska Military Department's Community Partnership Program.

NMD director and Nebraska National Guard Maj. Gen. Craig Strong said that Columbus is the eighth community his department has partnered with as part of this program.

"We dete

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