Dexter honors hometown hero, recipient of Medal of Honor

DEXTER, Mo. -- With a large measure of pomp and hometown pride, a statue in memory of the only person from Stoddard County to ever receive the Medal of Honor was unveiled Saturday morning.

The special dedication ceremonies for a statue in honor of 1st Lt. Ken Sisler were held on the grounds of the Keller Public Library in Dexter.

Sisler, the son of Grace and George Sisler, was killed in action in Vietnam in 1969. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and leadership in combat.

Sisler's widow Jane, sister Becky Sisler Wilson and his two sons, David and Jim, all spoke to the crowd of more than 400 prior to the unveiling of the statue.

"Of all the memorials for Ken, this is the most special," Wilson said to her hometown. She noted that the statue rests on the grounds of what used to be the football field at the old high school and that the family home was just a few blocks away.

"These were our stomping grounds," she said.

Son Jim, who is a major in the U.S. Air Force and has flown missions during America's current war against terrorism, recalled that his father and others throughout America's history died for a higher calling.

"Freedom isn't free," he reminded the crowd.

Despite warm temperatures, a large ground gathered for the ceremony and was greeted with patriotic music performed by 101st Airborne Division Band from Fort Campbell, Ky.

The morning's program began with a parachute performance by the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Command Demonstration Parachute Team.

Master of ceremonies for the program was Dexter Mayor Joe E. Weber. The Rev. Fred Leist of the First United Methodist Church offered invocation, and the presentation of arms and national colors was by the 101st Airborne Division Honor Guard.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by retired Lt. Col. Clifford T. Manlove of Dexter, and the 101st Airborne Division Band performed the national anthem.

Ginny Krapf of Dexter performed two selections in the patriotic program -- "God Bless America" and, at the close of the program, "Danny Boy," by request of the Sisler family.