Polk County Pulse - October 11, 2023

4 News

October 11, 2023

THE POLK COUNTY

Pulse

Herbert A. Littleton Memorial fundraiser is successful

By Ethan Nahté

The Herbert A. Littleton Detachment No. 1261 Marine Corps League (MCL) assembled for their monthly meeting at the American Legion on Sept. 16. Following roll call, commandant Ed Anderson was invited to speak first to talk of the success the MCL had in raising funds for Littleton’s plaque. “You know, I remember thinking that Herbert A. Littleton’s from Mena — Medal of Honor — and he’s represented at the Medal of Honor Memorial. And I just wanted Mena, Polk County, to take care of HAL’s plaque. Since he’s our native son. So, we set out to raise funds for Herbert’s plaque, and if there is anything left it would go to the commission and construction of the other memorials. “We were really pleased. At first, we set a goal of $2,500. And then we raised it. And something I want to hint at, there were two things. One was Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, [Injury Lawyers] in Little Rock. They found us because we had created a Facebook GoFundMe page. That’s how channel 11 found out about us. Because it just doesn’t go out on Facebook. It’s actually categorized in the family/emergency/funeral veteran-related items, etc., and then different organizations monitor it, and then if they see something that’s interesting, and that’s what happened was channel

s and - d ol l ar check,” Anderson said. “We went to Little Rock. Paul and John were there. We kind of started off with a thousand dollars right off the bat. “Long story short, locally (L-R) Jim Scott, Marine Corps League; Bill Lawson, Marine Corps we’ve raised League; John Smallwood, Medal of Honor Commission; Paul $2,510. AddGarrett, Medal of Honor Commission; Ed Anderson, Marine Corps League. (Submitted photo) ing the thou11 saw and thought it was an interestsand dollars ing story that a local small town would is a sum of $3,510. Right now, I’d like be trying to raise funds for their na- to present this cashier’s check tive son for his plaque. They contacted to the representatives from the Rainwater, Holt & Sexton.” Medal of Honor Commission, The law firm donated $1,000 to- Paul and John.” ward the replacement of the plaque on Garrett said, “This check KTHV 11’s “Saluting Heroes” that hon- for Herbert A. Littleton will ors local heroes each month. Reporter be matched by the Sydney S. Rolly Hoyt of KTHV 11 did a segment McMath Detachment out of in June after he visited Mena on June Little Rock. If any of you other 21 to speak with Anderson in front of detachments feel moved, we’re the Polk County Court House where still a few thousand dollars there is a memorial marker for HAL. away from our goal to comThe following day, Anderson, along plete this project. The goal with Paul Garrett and John Smallwood number is $120, 000 and we’re of the Sydney S. McMath Detachment at about $106,000-$107,000. We’ll be [No. 532] Marine Corps League of just north of $10,000 short when we Little Rock, traveled to Little Rock to match this check. accept the check from the law firm, as well as to visit the Medal of Honor Me- Certificate of Appreciation and morial. Hoyt included those visits in plaque the original segment that aired in June. “Our guest is Erica Watts,” Anderson Hoyt also included an update in said. “She’s with Pulse Multi-Media.” August about the local Marine Corps Providing some background, AnderLeague raising enough funds for HAL’s son explained, “I’m the past coordinaplaque. The update was included at the tor for Toys for Tots. This fundraiser end of the Saluting Heroes segment on wasn’t my first effort in the community KTHV 11 following a story on Garland to raise funds for different items. Man, County’s Memorial. all I’ve got to do is go into The Pulse “We were able to receive that thou-

and someone is there. That’s extremely helpful and now we have Erica. We want to welcome her if she’ll come up. “We have a certificate of appreciation to Pulse Multi-Media. Thank you for your coverage of our plaque replacement project for Medal of Honor recipient Herbert A. Littleton.” Anderson invited Larry Wakefield, Commandant of the Marine Corps League Department of Arkansas to present Watts with a token of gratitude. Wakefield said, “Thank you very much for your service and helping us because PR is really what makes or breaks almost everything that we do. All the coverage that we can get, we appreciate it.” Anderson also read the engraving of a plaque that was presented at a later

time to Pulse Multi-Media editor and production manager Ethan Nahté. Wakefield said, “It’s always a good time to see a presentation like that. It’s a lot of work. We’re happy to be the beneficiary of that.” Anderson said afterwards, “When I first heard about the damage at the Memorial, I told the Medal of Honor Commission that Mena/Polk County would take care of Herbert A. Littleton’s plaque replacement. I want to thank all of the individuals and businesses that helped us achieve our goal.”