Indiana CUs, League Open Military Hall of Fame

More than $300,000 was raised by Indiana credit unions, the Indiana Credit Union League and their business partners that helped build the state’s military hall of fame building.

The Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame Memorial, which opened April 5, is the only freestanding memorial of its kind in the nation, according to the Indiana league.

The new building, located on grounds of the American Legion headquarters in Lawrence, near the Fort Benjamin Harrison Army complex, honors veterans who have been inducted into the hall of fame.

Sixty-two veterans from all armed forces branches have been inducted into the hall of fame. The veterans’ stories have been memorialized to remember and expand public awareness about their sacrifice, courage, and heroism. Four large touchscreen monitors allow visitors to read about the veterans. The hall of fame building also displays military memorabilia donated by inductees and their families.

“Indiana’s credit unions and their leaders support a lot of worthy causes in their communities in addition to serving their members so well,” said Kevin Ryan, president/CEO of the $542 million Financial Center First Credit Union, who served as vice chair of the hall of fame’s organization board. “When we asked them to also support this and make it a priority, they came through in a most impressive manner.”

Mike Nelson, CFO of the Indianapolis-based Financial Center First CU, also served as treasurer for the hall of fame’s organization board.