By DAVID COLBURN

News editor

A circular bronze plaque recognizing the Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to Kapaun in 2013 for his actions while a prisoner during the Korean War was dedicated Saturday at the Marion VFW post.

“This is great. This is amazing,” Kapaun Museum volunteer Harriet Bina said. “We were so proud to hear about this. It touched our hearts.”

Bina, who spoke to nearly two dozen people during the dedication, said Pilsen native Kapaun would have been touched, but also embarrassed.

“He was such a humble man,” she said. “He would have just expected as a priest, a chaplain, and a Christian to do the things he did.”

District past commander Carter Oliver of Junction City noted there were numerous monuments to Kapaun around the world, and said it was fitting for the local post to honor him.

“He comes from here, homegrown, your own,” he said. “You don’t have to go look in a history book; he’s right here.

“If you can give people examples of someone who is tangible, they’ll embrace it a whole lot more than a myth or a legend they cannot picture or see.”

VFW state judge advocate Bob Cox of McPherson said Kapaun symbolized the resolve of American soldiers in difficult times.

“I’m sure there are a lot of young men serving today that have the same resolve Father Kapaun did,” he said.

Post commander Warren Kreutziger said he appreciated all who participated in the dedication.

“I’m tickled with all the different people that helped out with this,” he said. “The church in Pilsen was a big help to me. I couldn’t have done it without them.”