#fallensoldiers — Public Fediverse posts

https://www.europesays.com/iran/306072/ Two IDF soldiers killed after Israeli drone explodes inside Gaza Strip outpost #drone #FallenSoldiers #GazaStrip #IDF #IDFDrone #Israel #IsraelHamasWar #UAVs

IDF probe: Paga Outpost was not prepared for October 7 attack

The IDF failed in its mission to defend the Paga Outpost, officially known as Magen Be’eri, during the…
#Israel #News ##Spotlight #Fallensoldiers #golanibrigade #Hamas #IAF #idf #IDFsoldiers #IsraeliAirForce #jerusalem #KibbutzBe'eri #military #probe #soldiers #terrorism #TheOctober7Massacre
https://www.europesays.com/3269568/

Sunday, August 30, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/08/sunday-august-30-2026/

Sunday, August 30, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/08/sunday-august-30-2026/

Sunday, August 30, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/08/sunday-august-30-2026/

Sunday, August 30, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/08/sunday-august-30-2026/

https://www.europesays.com/iran/253842/ IDF locates remains of fallen soldier Yehuda Katz to Israel #FallenSoldiers #IDF #Israel #MiddleEast #MissingSoldiers

Ukraine Receives Bodies of 261 Fallen People, Russia Says They Are Ukrainian Soldiers | Ukraine news

The return marks another painstaking stage in a process that will requi…
#Ukraine #UA #Europe #Europa #EU #News #coordinationheadquarters #fallensoldiers #forensicexperts #identificationprocedures #Russian-Ukrainianwar #ukrainerepatriation #ukrainerepatriationfallensoldiersidentificationproceduresrussianukrainianwarcoordinationheadquartersforensicexperts
https://www.europesays.com/ukraine/27856/

https://www.europesays.com/iran/241391/ IDF investigates fatal southern Lebanon blast that killed two soldiers #explosion #ExplosiveDevice #FallenSoldiers #Hezbollah #IDF #investigation #Lebanon #ParatroopersBrigade

https://www.europesays.com/africa/366573/ KDF honours fallen paratroopers as soldiers urged to uphold elite forces’ legacy #FallenSoldiers #Headlines #KDFAirborneDay #KDFHonoursFallenParatroopersAsSoldiersUrgedToUpholdEliteForces’Legacy #Kenya #KenyaDefenceForces #KenyaParatroopers #news #SpecialForces

Pentagon Reclassifies Fallen Soldiers' Deaths Amid Alleged Cover-Up

📰 Original title: This dishonorable Trump henchman is robbing fallen heroes — literally

🤖 IA: It's clickbait ⚠️
👥 Users: It's clickbait ⚠️

View full AI summary https://en.killbait.com/pentagon-reclassifies-fallen-soldiers-deaths-amid-alleged-cover-up.html?utm_source=mastodon_world&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=killbait.mastodon_world

#politics #militarycoverup #fallensoldiers #pentagonscandal

Pentagon Reclassifies Fallen Soldiers' Deaths Amid Alleged Cover-Up

📰 Original title: This dishonorable Trump henchman is robbing fallen heroes — literally

🤖 IA: It's clickbait ⚠️
👥 Users: It's clickbait ⚠️

View full AI summary https://en.killbait.com/pentagon-reclassifies-fallen-soldiers-deaths-amid-alleged-cover-up.html?utm_source=mastodon_world&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=killbait.mastodon_world

#politics #militarycoverup #fallensoldiers #pentagonscandal

https://www.europesays.com/iran/237819/ Two IDF soldiers killed, four injured in Lebanon #FallenSoldiers #HezbollahLebanon #IDF #IDFReserves #Lebanon

Flags placed beside grave of Oct. 7 fallen soldier vandalized

Israeli flags placed beside the grave of Staff Sgt. Regev Amar, a soldier who fell in battle in…
#Israel #News #Crime #Fallensoldiers #jerusalem #northernIsrael #TheOctober7Massacre
https://www.europesays.com/3175341/

https://www.europesays.com/iran/222375/ Donald Trump Criticized After Claiming Fallen Soldiers Told Him Iran ‘Can’t Have A Nuclear Weapon’ #DignifiedTransfer #DonaldTrump #DoverAirForceBase #FallenSoldiers #Iran #ServiceMembers

https://www.europesays.com/iran/219750/ Trump claims without proof that soldiers killed in Iran war shared his view that Tehran can’t have a nuclear weapon #DonaldTrump #DoverAirForceBase #FallenSoldiers #Iran #IranWar #MiddleEastConflict #NuclearWeapon #PeteHegseth #Tehran #TheIndependent #WhiteHouse

Trump honors four U.S. soldiers killed in Middle East

DOVER, Del. (Gray DC) – President Donald Trump traveled to Dover…
#UnitedStates #US #USA #AngelRampersad #ChairmanoftheJointChiefs #dc #defensesecretary #delaware #dignifiedtransfer #DonaldTrump #dover #DoverAFB #DoverAirForceBase #Fallensoldiers #gen-dan-caine #Iran #iranwar #Iranwarcasualties #IranWarDeaths #IsabellaGonzales #MichaelEmmanuelSwinton #petehegseth #POTUS #trump #TylerJamesFeehan #washington
https://www.europesays.com/3147742/

https://www.europesays.com/people/162225/ Trump honors four U.S. soldiers killed in Middle East # IranWarDeaths #AngelRampersad #ChairmanOfTheJointChiefs #DC #DefenseSecretary #delaware #DignifiedTransfer #DonaldTrump #dover #DoverAFB #DoverAirForceBase #FallenSoldiers #GenDanCaine #Iran #IranWar #IranWarCasualties #IsabellaGonzales #MichaelEmmanuelSwinton #PeteHegseth #POTUS #Trump #TylerJamesFeehan #washington

https://www.europesays.com/people/161773/ Trump to attend dignified transfer of four fallen service members #DignifiedTransfer #DoverAirForceBase #FallenSoldiers #Iran #Iraq #Jordan #POTUS #PresidentDonaldTrump #PresidentOfTheUnitedStates #PresidentTrump #Trump #USMilitary

https://www.europesays.com/people/161771/ Trump to attend dignified transfer of four fallen service members #DignifiedTransfer #DonaldTrump #DoverAirForceBase #FallenSoldiers #Iran #Iraq #Jordan #Trump #USMilitary

Ukraine and Russia exchange the remains of more soldiers https://www.byteseu.com/2201045/ #FallenSoldiers #InternationalRedCross #Russia #RussianSoldiers #Ukraine #UkraineAndRussia

https://www.europesays.com/iran/197884/ IDF says soldier missing since 1948 war determined to be buried near Jerusalem #FallenSoldiers #HarelBrigadeCemetery #Israel #IsraeliWarOfIndependence #KibbutzKiryatAnavim

IDF says soldier missing since 1948 war determined to be buried near Jerusalem

A soldier killed in Israel’s War of Independence who had been considered missing for 78 years has been…
#Conflict #Conflicts #War #Fallensoldiers #HarelBrigadecemetery #IsraeliWarofIndependence #KibbutzKiryatAnavim #war
https://www.europesays.com/3118379/

Spanning a River, a Century, and Two Lives Given for Us

Most of us don’t contemplate time in relation to everyday structures unless there is something unique or historic about it. We drive a highway, enter a building, walk a trail, cross a bridge, or climb a staircase without any thought of its existence beyond its utilitarian purpose.

Now and then an otherwise obscure structure will garner our attention merely by a fortuitous glance. That happened to this blog author and wife recently while we were traveling through southeast Kansas.

Just east of Independence, Kansas, while crossing the rain swollen Verdigris River on U.S. 160, I just happened to look to the right and saw an impressive four-span concrete through-arch bridge upriver from where we were. For the heck of it, we decided to circle back and take a closer look. Boy, are we ever glad we did.

The first thing noticed beyond the bridge’s handsome architecture was its birthdate engraved into the mortar…“1926.” Well now, we have ourselves a centenarian. This grand old bridge has survived the Depression; countless severe storms and tornadoes; snow, salt, wind, and ice; reckless divers; snowplows; heavy trucks and farm machinery, being bypassed by a strapping steel span, budget cuts, deferred maintenance, and who knows what else. Yet, the Old Route 160 Bridge (technically Montgomery County Bridge #628) across the Verdigris River has withstood all of these challenges and the test of time.

As noted earlier, Montgomery County Bridge #628 consists of four spans. It is a Rainbow (or Marsh) through-arch. The bridge has a total length of 434 feet with a main span of 122 feet and a width of 20 feet. It was built by the Fifield Construction Company of Waterloo, Iowa and Marsh Engineering Company of Des Moines. These two firms also combined forces to construct a similar, though shorter bridge in nearby Coffeyville that same year (1926).

– Source for the information in the previous paragraph: historic bridges.org

Montgomery County Bridge #628 was added to the National Register of History Places in 1983. It is the longest remaining Rainbow (or Marsh) Arch bridge in Kansas. James B. Marsh, founder of Marsh Engineering received a patent for this type of bridge design in 1911 (see image above). Two notable aspects of the bridge’s history from the register application include:

“It was not until the introduction of the “rainbow arch” by Marsh, that Kansas made widespread use of reinforced concrete spans for major stream crossings. Marsh canvassed the midwest, selling his arches in direct competition with the steel trusses at that time.”

“The Verdigris River bridge east of Independence, Kansas retains its integrity of
location, design, setting, materials, feeling, and association. It is associated with the life of James B. Marsh, pioneer in steel and concrete bridge construction. It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type and method of construction that is no longer used, and, as such, may yield information important to the history of engineering.”

– Source: npgallery.nps.gov

But there is more to this handsome river span than first meets the eye. Set near ground level on either end of the concrete bridge walls are four old plaques. Two list the usual details like the year built and platitudes for those who oversaw its design and construction.

On another plaque (see above) was a solemn dedication. The bridge we had just stumbled upon by chance is dedicated to the memory of O. “Otis” Glenn Dewlen, a nearly 22 year-old man who was killed during the Argonne Forest Campaign in France on September 26, 1918. His death occurred barely eight weeks before the signing of the November 11th Armistice, which brought an end to World War I. 

Below is an image of the newspaper account of his death as written by his Sergeant in a letter to his mother…

– Source: newspapers.com

Apparently, we missed the second memorial plaque dedicated to another local young man (Harry F. Spohnhauer) who died on November 2, 1918, a mere nine days before the Armistice. As a result the honorary, non-technical name for the bridge is the Dewlen-Spohnhauer Memorial Bridge. Unfortunately, readily available information on PFC Spohnhauer was not found online, other than he appears to have lived just outside of Independence near the community of Cherryvale.

Such an occurrence is not unusual. It seems no matter how many times we traverse the heartland of the United States on our way to and fro, there is always something new to see, observe, attend, or happen upon. Sometimes it’s a scenic vista, while other times it’s a lonely bridge in Kansas that commemorates two brave young men. 

Mostly, it’s the unexpected and unplanned surprises that are vividly etched into the lasting memories of our psyche. Montgomery County Bridge #628 is just such a place. We will forever be grateful for the opportunity afforded us to visit this remarkable old bridge and honor these two stalwart young men who sacrificed their lives for the greater good.

“Something for all of us to ponder as we rapidly approach the nation’s 250th birthday during a time of ongoing threats to our cherished civil liberties — these two young privates from a small Kansas community, so aptly named Independence, gave their lives to protect those same freedoms that most Americans plan to celebrate during the upcoming week. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.”

– Panethos.wordpress.com

Peace!

Postscript:

Given the historical, engineering, and commemorative importance of Montgomery County Bridge #628, it seems that routine maintenance should be an ongoing priority. As some of the photos taken last week clearly show, the bridge appears to need prompt service and care to assure it retains its integrity and survives yet another century to honor its unique engineering design and especially in remembrance of two young men from Independence, Kansas.

SOURCES:

• Onsite plaques
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/09df7aea-3f23-4ba9-9700-44f6394315e6
• https://historicbridges.org/b_a_list.php?ct=&c=&ptype=county&pname=Montgomery+County,+Kansas
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/83000436
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/09df7aea-3f23-4ba9-9700-44f6394315e6
• https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=61437
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Montgomery_County,_Kansas
• https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-star-otis-glenn-dewlen-kill/4106636/
• https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/statewide/military/wwI/casualty/s1p22-27.html

Spanning a River, a Century, and Two Lives Given for Us

Most of us don’t contemplate time in relation to everyday structures unless there is something unique or historic about it. We drive a highway, enter a building, walk a trail, cross a bridge, or climb a staircase without any thought of its existence beyond its utilitarian purpose.

Now and then an otherwise obscure structure will garner our attention merely by a fortuitous glance. That happened to this blog author and wife recently while we were traveling through southeast Kansas.

Just east of Independence, Kansas, while crossing the rain swollen Verdigris River on U.S. 160, I just happened to look to the right and saw an impressive four-span concrete through-arch bridge upriver from where we were. For the heck of it, we decided to circle back and take a closer look. Boy, are we ever glad we did.

The first thing noticed beyond the bridge’s handsome architecture was its birthdate engraved into the mortar…“1926.” Well now, we have ourselves a centenarian. This grand old bridge has survived the Depression; countless severe storms and tornadoes; snow, salt, wind, and ice; reckless divers; snowplows; heavy trucks and farm machinery, being bypassed by a strapping steel span, budget cuts, deferred maintenance, and who knows what else. Yet, the Old Route 160 Bridge (technically Montgomery County Bridge #628) across the Verdigris River has withstood all of these challenges and the test of time.

As noted earlier, Montgomery County Bridge #628 consists of four spans. It is a Rainbow (or Marsh) through-arch. The bridge has a total length of 434 feet with a main span of 122 feet and a width of 20 feet. It was built by the Fifield Construction Company of Waterloo, Iowa and Marsh Engineering Company of Des Moines. These two firms also combined forces to construct a similar, though shorter bridge in nearby Coffeyville that same year (1926).

– Source for the information in the previous paragraph: historic bridges.org

Montgomery County Bridge #628 was added to the National Register of History Places in 1983. It is the longest remaining Rainbow (or Marsh) Arch bridge in Kansas. James B. Marsh, founder of Marsh Engineering received a patent for this type of bridge design in 1911 (see image above). Two notable aspects of the bridge’s history from the register application include:

“It was not until the introduction of the “rainbow arch” by Marsh, that Kansas made widespread use of reinforced concrete spans for major stream crossings. Marsh canvassed the midwest, selling his arches in direct competition with the steel trusses at that time.”

“The Verdigris River bridge east of Independence, Kansas retains its integrity of
location, design, setting, materials, feeling, and association. It is associated with the life of James B. Marsh, pioneer in steel and concrete bridge construction. It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type and method of construction that is no longer used, and, as such, may yield information important to the history of engineering.”

– Source: npgallery.nps.gov

But there is more to this handsome river span than first meets the eye. Set near ground level on either end of the concrete bridge walls are four old plaques. Two list the usual details like the year built and platitudes for those who oversaw its design and construction.

On another plaque (see above) was a solemn dedication. The bridge we had just stumbled upon by chance is dedicated to the memory of O. “Otis” Glenn Dewlen, a nearly 22 year-old man who was killed during the Argonne Forest Campaign in France on September 26, 1918. His death occurred barely eight weeks before the signing of the November 11th Armistice, which brought an end to World War I. 

Below is an image of the newspaper account of his death as written by his Sergeant in a letter to his mother…

– Source: newspapers.com

Apparently, we missed the second memorial plaque dedicated to another local young man (Harry F. Spohnhauer) who died on November 2, 1918, a mere nine days before the Armistice. As a result the honorary, non-technical name for the bridge is the Dewlen-Spohnhauer Memorial Bridge. Unfortunately, readily available information on PFC Spohnhauer was not found online, other than he appears to have lived just outside of Independence near the community of Cherryvale.

Such an occurrence is not unusual. It seems no matter how many times we traverse the heartland of the United States on our way to and fro, there is always something new to see, observe, attend, or happen upon. Sometimes it’s a scenic vista, while other times it’s a lonely bridge in Kansas that commemorates two brave young men. 

Mostly, it’s the unexpected and unplanned surprises that are vividly etched into the lasting memories of our psyche. Montgomery County Bridge #628 is just such a place. We will forever be grateful for the opportunity afforded us to visit this remarkable old bridge and honor these two stalwart young men who sacrificed their lives for the greater good.

“Something for all of us to ponder as we rapidly approach the nation’s 250th birthday during a time of ongoing threats to our cherished civil liberties — these two young privates from a small Kansas community, so aptly named Independence, gave their lives to protect those same freedoms that most Americans plan to celebrate during the upcoming week. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.”

– Panethos.wordpress.com

Peace!

Postscript:

Given the historical, engineering, and commemorative importance of Montgomery County Bridge #628, it seems that routine maintenance should be an ongoing priority. As some of the photos taken last week clearly show, the bridge appears to need prompt service and care to assure it retains its integrity and survives yet another century to honor its unique engineering design and especially in remembrance of two young men from Independence, Kansas.

SOURCES:

• Onsite plaques
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/09df7aea-3f23-4ba9-9700-44f6394315e6
• https://historicbridges.org/b_a_list.php?ct=&c=&ptype=county&pname=Montgomery+County,+Kansas
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/83000436
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/09df7aea-3f23-4ba9-9700-44f6394315e6
• https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=61437
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Montgomery_County,_Kansas
• https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-star-otis-glenn-dewlen-kill/4106636/
• https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/statewide/military/wwI/casualty/s1p22-27.html

Spanning a River, a Century, and Two Lives Given for Us

Most of us don’t contemplate time in relation to everyday structures unless there is something unique or historic about it. We drive a highway, enter a building, walk a trail, cross a bridge, or climb a staircase without any thought of its existence beyond its utilitarian purpose.

Now and then an otherwise obscure structure will garner our attention merely by a fortuitous glance. That happened to this blog author and wife recently while we were traveling through southeast Kansas.

Just east of Independence, Kansas, while crossing the rain swollen Verdigris River on U.S. 160, I just happened to look to the right and saw an impressive four-span concrete through-arch bridge upriver from where we were. For the heck of it, we decided to circle back and take a closer look. Boy, are we ever glad we did.

The first thing noticed beyond the bridge’s handsome architecture was its birthdate engraved into the mortar…“1926.” Well now, we have ourselves a centenarian. This grand old bridge has survived the Depression; countless severe storms and tornadoes; snow, salt, wind, and ice; reckless divers; snowplows; heavy trucks and farm machinery, being bypassed by a strapping steel span, budget cuts, deferred maintenance, and who knows what else. Yet, the Old Route 160 Bridge (technically Montgomery County Bridge #628) across the Verdigris River has withstood all of these challenges and the test of time.

As noted earlier, Montgomery County Bridge #628 consists of four spans. It is a Rainbow (or Marsh) through-arch. The bridge has a total length of 434 feet with a main span of 122 feet and a width of 20 feet. It was built by the Fifield Construction Company of Waterloo, Iowa and Marsh Engineering Company of Des Moines. These two firms also combined forces to construct a similar, though shorter bridge in nearby Coffeyville that same year (1926).

– Source for the information in the previous paragraph: historic bridges.org

Montgomery County Bridge #628 was added to the National Register of History Places in 1983. It is the longest remaining Rainbow (or Marsh) Arch bridge in Kansas. James B. Marsh, founder of Marsh Engineering received a patent for this type of bridge design in 1911 (see image above). Two notable aspects of the bridge’s history from the register application include:

“It was not until the introduction of the “rainbow arch” by Marsh, that Kansas made widespread use of reinforced concrete spans for major stream crossings. Marsh canvassed the midwest, selling his arches in direct competition with the steel trusses at that time.”

“The Verdigris River bridge east of Independence, Kansas retains its integrity of
location, design, setting, materials, feeling, and association. It is associated with the life of James B. Marsh, pioneer in steel and concrete bridge construction. It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type and method of construction that is no longer used, and, as such, may yield information important to the history of engineering.”

– Source: npgallery.nps.gov

But there is more to this handsome river span than first meets the eye. Set near ground level on either end of the concrete bridge walls are four old plaques. Two list the usual details like the year built and platitudes for those who oversaw its design and construction.

On another plaque (see above) was a solemn dedication. The bridge we had just stumbled upon by chance is dedicated to the memory of O. “Otis” Glenn Dewlen, a nearly 22 year-old man who was killed during the Argonne Forest Campaign in France on September 26, 1918. His death occurred barely eight weeks before the signing of the November 11th Armistice, which brought an end to World War I. 

Below is an image of the newspaper account of his death as written by his Sergeant in a letter to his mother…

– Source: newspapers.com

Apparently, we missed the second memorial plaque dedicated to another local young man (Harry F. Spohnhauer) who died on November 2, 1918, a mere nine days before the Armistice. As a result the honorary, non-technical name for the bridge is the Dewlen-Spohnhauer Memorial Bridge. Unfortunately, readily available information on PFC Spohnhauer was not found online, other than he appears to have lived just outside of Independence near the community of Cherryvale.

Such an occurrence is not unusual. It seems no matter how many times we traverse the heartland of the United States on our way to and fro, there is always something new to see, observe, attend, or happen upon. Sometimes it’s a scenic vista, while other times it’s a lonely bridge in Kansas that commemorates two brave young men. 

Mostly, it’s the unexpected and unplanned surprises that are vividly etched into the lasting memories of our psyche. Montgomery County Bridge #628 is just such a place. We will forever be grateful for the opportunity afforded us to visit this remarkable old bridge and honor these two stalwart young men who sacrificed their lives for the greater good.

“Something for all of us to ponder as we rapidly approach the nation’s 250th birthday during a time of ongoing threats to our cherished civil liberties — these two young privates from a small Kansas community, so aptly named Independence, gave their lives to protect those same freedoms that many Americans plan to celebrate during the upcoming week. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.”

– Panethos.wordpress.com

Peace!

Postscript:

Given the historical, engineering, and commemorative importance of Montgomery County Bridge #628, it seems that routine maintenance should be an ongoing priority. As some of the photos taken last week clearly show, the bridge appears to need prompt service and care to assure it retains its integrity and survives yet another century to honor its unique engineering design and especially in remembrance of two young men from Independence, Kansas.

SOURCES:

• Onsite plaques
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/09df7aea-3f23-4ba9-9700-44f6394315e6
• https://historicbridges.org/b_a_list.php?ct=&c=&ptype=county&pname=Montgomery+County,+Kansas
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/83000436
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/09df7aea-3f23-4ba9-9700-44f6394315e6
• https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=61437
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Montgomery_County,_Kansas
• https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-star-otis-glenn-dewlen-kill/4106636/
• https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/statewide/military/wwI/casualty/s1p22-27.html

Spanning a River, a Century, and Two Lives Given for Us

Most of us don’t contemplate time in relation to everyday structures unless there is something unique or historic about it. We drive a highway, enter a building, walk a trail, cross a bridge, or climb a staircase without any thought of its existence beyond its utilitarian purpose.

Now and then an otherwise obscure structure will garner our attention merely by a fortuitous glance. That happened to this blog author and wife recently while we were traveling through southeast Kansas.

Just east of Independence, Kansas, while crossing the rain swollen Verdigris River on U.S. 160, I just happened to look to the right and saw an impressive four-span concrete through-arch bridge upriver from where we were. For the heck of it, we decided to circle back and take a closer look. Boy, are we ever glad we did.

The first thing noticed beyond the bridge’s handsome architecture was its birthdate engraved into the mortar…“1926.” Well now, we have ourselves a centenarian. This grand old bridge has survived the Depression; countless severe storms and tornadoes; snow, salt, wind, and ice; reckless divers; snowplows; heavy trucks and farm machinery, being bypassed by a strapping steel span, budget cuts, deferred maintenance, and who knows what else. Yet, the Old Route 160 Bridge (technically Montgomery County Bridge #628) across the Verdigris River has withstood all of these challenges and the test of time.

As noted earlier, Montgomery County Bridge #628 consists of four spans. It is a Rainbow (or Marsh) through-arch. The bridge has a total length of 434 feet with a main span of 122 feet and a width of 20 feet. It was built by the Fifield Construction Company of Waterloo, Iowa and Marsh Engineering Company of Des Moines. These two firms also combined forces to construct a similar, though shorter bridge in nearby Coffeyville that same year (1926).

– Source for the information in the previous paragraph: historic bridges.org

Montgomery County Bridge #628 was added to the National Register of History Places in 1983. It is the longest remaining Rainbow (or Marsh) Arch bridge in Kansas. James B. Marsh, founder of Marsh Engineering received a patent for this type of bridge design in 1911 (see image above). Two notable aspects of the bridge’s history from the register application include:

“It was not until the introduction of the “rainbow arch” by Marsh, that Kansas made widespread use of reinforced concrete spans for major stream crossings. Marsh canvassed the midwest, selling his arches in direct competition with the steel trusses at that time.”

“The Verdigris River bridge east of Independence, Kansas retains its integrity of
location, design, setting, materials, feeling, and association. It is associated with the life of James B. Marsh, pioneer in steel and concrete bridge construction. It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type and method of construction that is no longer used, and, as such, may yield information important to the history of engineering.”

– Source: npgallery.nps.gov

But there is more to this handsome river span than first meets the eye. Set near ground level on either end of the concrete bridge walls are four old plaques. Two list the usual details like the year built and platitudes for those who oversaw its design and construction.

On another plaque (see above) was a solemn dedication. The bridge we had just stumbled upon by chance is dedicated to the memory of O. “Otis” Glenn Dewlen, a nearly 22 year-old man who was killed during the Argonne Forest Campaign in France on September 26, 1918. His death occurred barely eight weeks before the signing of the November 11th Armistice, which brought an end to World War I. 

Below is an image of the newspaper account of his death as written by his Sergeant in a letter to his mother…

– Source: newspapers.com

Apparently, we missed the second memorial plaque dedicated to another local young man (Harry F. Spohnhauer) who died on November 2, 1918, a mere nine days before the Armistice. As a result the honorary, non-technical name for the bridge is the Dewlen-Spohnhauer Memorial Bridge. Unfortunately, readily available information on PFC Spohnhauer was not found online, other than he appears to have lived just outside of Independence near the community of Cherryvale.

Such an occurrence is not unusual. It seems no matter how many times we traverse the heartland of the United States on our way to and fro, there is always something new to see, observe, attend, or happen upon. Sometimes it’s a scenic vista, while other times it’s a lonely bridge in Kansas that commemorates two brave young men. 

Mostly, it’s the unexpected and unplanned surprises that are vividly etched into the lasting memories of our psyche. Montgomery County Bridge #628 is just such a place. We will forever be grateful for the opportunity afforded us to visit this remarkable old bridge and honor these two stalwart young men who sacrificed their lives for the greater good.

“Something for all of us to ponder as we rapidly approach the nation’s 250th birthday during a time of ongoing threats to our cherished civil liberties — these two young privates from a small Kansas community, so aptly named Independence, gave their lives to protect those same freedoms that many Americans plan to celebrate during the upcoming week. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.”

– Panethos.wordpress.com

Peace!

Postscript:

Given the historical, engineering, and commemorative importance of Montgomery County Bridge #628, it seems that routine maintenance should be an ongoing priority. As some of the photos taken last week clearly show, the bridge appears to need prompt service and care to assure it retains its integrity and survives yet another century to honor its unique engineering design and especially in remembrance of two young men from Independence, Kansas.

SOURCES:

• Onsite plaques
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/09df7aea-3f23-4ba9-9700-44f6394315e6
• https://historicbridges.org/b_a_list.php?ct=&c=&ptype=county&pname=Montgomery+County,+Kansas
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/83000436
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/09df7aea-3f23-4ba9-9700-44f6394315e6
• https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=61437
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Montgomery_County,_Kansas
• https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-star-otis-glenn-dewlen-kill/4106636/
• https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/statewide/military/wwI/casualty/s1p22-27.html

https://www.europesays.com/iran/181299/ Captain David Hazutt killed in combat in southern Lebanon, IDF announces #FallenSoldiers #Hezbollah #IDF #Lebanon #Terrorist

IDF Armored Brigade soldier died in southern Lebanon, military announces

Chief Sgt. First Class (res.) Basil Sweid, 32, from Peki’in, died during an operational activity in southern Lebanon,…
#Israel #News #Fallensoldiers #Haifa #idf #IDFreserves #jerusalem #Lebanon #military #rambammedicalcenter
https://www.europesays.com/3087164/

https://www.europesays.com/iran/176579/ IDF Armored Brigade soldier died in southern Lebanon, military announces #FallenSoldiers #IDF #Lebanon #Military

https://www.europesays.com/iran/169997/ Staff Sergeant Nave Habshoosh killed in southern Lebanon #FallenSoldiers #GivatiBrigade #Hezbollah #IDF #IsraelHezbollah #Lebanon #Tanks #War

IDF soldier killed, 13 injured in overnight Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon

An Israel Defense Forces soldier was killed and 13 others wounded in southern Lebanon during an attack by…
#Israel #News #2026Israel-Hezbollahconflict #Fallensoldiers #Hezbollah #IDFIsraelDefenseForces #IDFsoldiers #Nabatieh #southernlebanon
https://www.europesays.com/3077356/

https://www.europesays.com/iran/169825/ IDF soldier killed, 13 injured in overnight Hezbollah attack in southern Lebanon #2026IsraelHezbollahConflict #FallenSoldiers #Hezbollah #IDFIsraelDefenseForces #IDFSoldiers #Lebanon #Nabatieh #SouthernLebanon

https://www.europesays.com/iran/169507/ Two IDF soldiers die in Hezbollah attacks in Lebanon after ceasefire announced #FallenSoldiers #GivatiBrigade #Hezbollah #IDF #Lebanon #LebanonWar

Four IDF soldiers killed while fighting in southern Lebanon

The IDF announced on Friday that four soldiers were killed while fighting in southern Lebanon, with the commander…
#Israel #News #Fallensoldiers #givatibrigade #jerusalem #lebanonwar #soldiers #war
https://www.europesays.com/3074007/

https://www.europesays.com/people/120817/ Benjamin Netanyahu says Hezbollah will pay ‘heavy price’ following death of four soldiers #AvigdorLiberman #BenjaminNetanyahu #BezalelSmotrich #FallenSoldiers #IDF #ItamarBenGvir #lebanon

https://www.europesays.com/iran/167831/ Four IDF soldiers killed while fighting in southern Lebanon #FallenSoldiers #GivatiBrigade #Israel #Lebanon #LebanonWar #soldiers #War

Friday, April 10, 2026

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Friday, April 10, 2026

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Friday, April 10, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/04/friday-april-10-2026/

Friday, January 30, 2026

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Friday, January 30, 2026

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Friday, January 30, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/01/friday-january-30-2026/

Monday, December 22, 2025

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/12/monday-december-22-2025/

Monday, December 22, 2025

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Monday, December 22, 2025

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/12/monday-december-22-2025/

Saturday, December 20, 2025

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Saturday, December 20, 2025

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Saturday, December 20, 2025

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/12/saturday-december-20-2025/

Tưởng nhớ 39 chiến sỹ thuộc Đại đội 13 đã anh dũng hy sinh trên chiến trường Campuchia cách đây 39 năm (1986). Trong một nhiệm vụ quốc tế cao cả, 39 trong số 40 người lính đã ngã xuống.

Xin thành kính tri ân và đời đời ghi nhớ công ơn các anh hùng liệt sỹ.

#LichSuVietNam #TuongNiem #LietSy #Campuchia #QuanDoiNhanDanVietNam
#VietnamHistory #Memorial #FallenSoldiers #Vietnam #Cambodia

https://vtcnews.vn/xuc-dong-le-tuong-niem-39-chien-sy-hy-sinh-tren-canh-dong-mau-campuchia-1986-ar990104.html

Monday, June 30, 2025

Russia launches largest attack of war, targeting Ukrainian regions far from front lines — F-16 pilot killed during Russia’s overnight massive air attack — Russia has lost 1,018,940 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022 — Azerbaijan cancels Russian events over ‘extrajudicial killings’ of 2 citizens in Russia’s Yekaterinburg … and more

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/06/monday-june-30-2025/

Monday, June 30, 2025

Russia launches largest attack of war, targeting Ukrainian regions far from front lines — F-16 pilot killed during Russia’s overnight massive air attack — Russia has lost 1,018,940 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022 — Azerbaijan cancels Russian events over ‘extrajudicial killings’ of 2 citizens in Russia’s Yekaterinburg … and more

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/06/monday-june-30-2025/

Monday, June 30, 2025

Russia launches largest attack of war, targeting Ukrainian regions far from front lines — F-16 pilot killed during Russia’s overnight massive air attack — Russia has lost 1,018,940 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022 — Azerbaijan cancels Russian events over ‘extrajudicial killings’ of 2 citizens in Russia’s Yekaterinburg … and more

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/06/monday-june-30-2025/

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Russians lie about everything; Ukraine hits out at Kremlin claims after yet another drone strike on Kyiv — Russia ramps up its summer offensive in several directions — Russia to demand Ukraine destroy Western weapons to end war, senior Kremlin official says — Satellite images show expansion at 5 Russian nuclear sites near Europe … and more

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/06/tuesday-june-17-2025/

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Russians lie about everything; Ukraine hits out at Kremlin claims after yet another drone strike on Kyiv — Russia ramps up its summer offensive in several directions — Russia to demand Ukraine destroy Western weapons to end war, senior Kremlin official says — Satellite images show expansion at 5 Russian nuclear sites near Europe … and more

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/06/tuesday-june-17-2025/

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Russians lie about everything; Ukraine hits out at Kremlin claims after yet another drone strike on Kyiv — Russia ramps up its summer offensive in several directions — Russia to demand Ukraine destroy Western weapons to end war, senior Kremlin official says — Satellite images show expansion at 5 Russian nuclear sites near Europe … and more

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/06/tuesday-june-17-2025/

Monday, June 9, 2025

Ukrainian boxer Usyk invites Trump to his home to see Russia’s war firsthand — Russian missiles target western Ukraine in latest mass attack — Ukrainian drones hit Russian electronic warfare facility in Chuvashia Republic — Trump administration redirects 20,000 anti-drone missiles meant for Ukraine — Germany plans expansion of air raid shelters amid growing Russian threats … and more

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/06/monday-june-9-2025/

Monday, June 9, 2025

Ukrainian boxer Usyk invites Trump to his home to see Russia’s war firsthand — Russian missiles target western Ukraine in latest mass attack — Ukrainian drones hit Russian electronic warfare facility in Chuvashia Republic — Trump administration redirects 20,000 anti-drone missiles meant for Ukraine — Germany plans expansion of air raid shelters amid growing Russian threats … and more

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/06/monday-june-9-2025/

How NASCAR drivers honor fallen soldiers during Coca-Cola 600 https://www.rawchili.com/4275258/ #CocaCola600 #FallenSoldier #FallenSoldiers #nascar

Saturday, May 17The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]

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Russia’s war against Ukraine

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan chairs Turkiye-Russia-Ukraine Trilateral Meeting at Dolmabahce Presidential Office in Istanbul, Turkiye on May 16, 2025. (Arda Kucukkaya / Anadolu via Getty Images)

Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul end, Moscow demands Kyiv withdraw from 4 regions, no ceasefire agreement. Some of Russia’s demands include the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from their own territory as a condition for a ceasefire, an unnamed Ukrainian source told Sky News.

Ukraine, Russia agree to hold follow-up meeting after Istanbul peace talks. “Parties have agreed in principle to come together again,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.

‘Time to increase the pressure‘ — Zelensky, European leaders speak with Trump following Istanbul peace talks. The conversation took place shortly after the conclusion of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul, which ended with little progress beyond an agreement on prisoner exchange.

Russia, Ukraine agree on 1,000-for-1,000 POW exchange in Istanbul, Umerov says. “We know the date, but we’re not going to say it yet,” Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.

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Trump says he’s returning to US, expects to meet Putin ‘as soon as we can set it up.’ “I think it’s time for us to just do it,” U.S. Presidnet Donald Trump said in Abu Dhabi, adding that the meeting between the two would happen “as soon as we can set it up.”

Up to 640,000 Russian troops fighting against Ukraine, Syrskyi says. Vadym Skibitskyi, the deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), reported in March that Russia had deployed 620,000 soldiers to fight in Ukraine, a rise from his previous estimate of nearly 580,000 in November 2024.

Putin appoints general who led Mariupol assault as new Russian Ground Forces Commander. Under Andrey Mordvichev’s command, Russian troops carried out the destruction of civilian infrastructure and committed atrocities against both civilians and the Ukrainian military, Ukraine has said.

Explosions rock occupied Crimea as drone attack reportedly sets Russian ammo depot on fire. A fire broke out at an ammunition depot in the village of Perevalne in Russian-occupied Crimea following a series of explosions during a drone attack on the morning of May 16, the Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported, citing local residents.

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Ukraine war latest: Moscow demands Kyiv withdraw from 4 regions following the talks, no ceasefire agreement

Ukrainian and Russian delegations concluded their talks in Istanbul on May 16 after speaking for less than two hours, with no agreement reached on a full, 30-day ceasefire, and Moscow demanding Kyiv withdraw completely from Ukraine’s four oblasts that President Vladimir Putin claims to have annexed.

Photo: Arif Yaman / Anadolu via Getty Images

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‘Putin is laughing at Trump’ — Ukraine in disbelief as Russia makes a mockery of US-led ceasefire attempts

Russian President Vladimir Putin had rebuffed President Volodymyr Zelensky, his European allies, and the U.S., and in response, Donald Trump simply went along with it, excusing his Russian counterpart for not attending the peace talks in Istanbul that Putin himself proposed.

Photo: Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images

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‘It’s all a farce’ — Ukrainian soldiers on Russia’s ‘smokescreen’ peace talks in Istanbul

Ukraine continues to insist on a ceasefire, supported by the U.S. and Europe, saying that a halt to active warfare must come before any real peace talks are possible. Russia has so far rejected a truce four times — on March 11, March 25, May 11 and the most recent one on May 16 in Istanbul.

Photo: Contributor / Getty Images

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Who is Vladimir Medinsky? The Putin aide leading Russia’s delegation at Ukraine peace talks

Despite an invitation from Volodymyr Zelensky to meet in Istanbul, Vladimir Putin was a no-show in Turkey, sending instead an aide, Vladimir Medinsky, to head the Russian delegation in peace talks. Medinsky headed the only other direct talks between the two sides in March–April 2022.

Photo: Yasin Akgul / AFP via Getty Images

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Human cost of Russia’s war

Ukraine brings back bodies of 909 fallen soldiers. The bodies of soldiers were recovered from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts as well as from morgues in Russia.

With Ukraine’s Peaky Blinders chasing Russian soldiers near Pokrovsk

International response

‘This is turkey time’ — Trump vows sanctions on Moscow if peace talks fail, says Putin is ‘tired’ of war. “Honestly, I will (impose sanctions), if we’re not gonna make a deal,” Trump told Fox News’ Bret Baier in an interview published on May 16. “This would be crushing for Russia because they’re having a hard time now with the economy.”

‘We have to increase the pressure‘ — Von der Leyen vows new Russia sanctions after Putin skips peace talks. Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Commission is preparing a new sanctions package, which would include sanctions on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, additional listings of vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet, a lower oil price cap, and sanctions on Russia’s financial sector.

As Russia sticks to hardline demands during peace talks, Europe frustrated with Trump’s swerves, Bloomberg reports. European officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they remain unsure of U.S. President Donald Trump’s next move and fear that his unpredictable stance could undercut momentum toward a unified Western response.

‘It was my duty to step down‘ — Former US Ambassador to Ukraine confirms resignation over Trump’s policy. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, who held the role since 2022, accused the Trump administration of prioritizing pressure on Ukraine, the victim of Russia’s full-scale invasion, rather than confronting the Kremlin.

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In other news

Russian economic growth slowing down, Rosstat reports. Russia’s economy is experiencing a sharp slowdown in growth, according to a report released by the governmental statistics agency Rosstat on May 16. GDP only grew by 1.4% in the first quarter of 2025 – a notable decline from 4.5% growth in the previous quarter and 5.4% in the same period last year.

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