South Beloit man builds replica of Lake Ladonna Vietnam memorial

SOUTH BELOIT, Ill. (WIFR) -- A South Beloit man loves Lake Ladonna so much that he created a replica of the memorial there.

Tony Lynch says he and his family had a place at the Lake Ladonna campground in Oregon for years, but they left in 2011.

Lynch decided to use some open space in his background by filling it with a replica of a Vietnam memorial at Lake Ladonna.

The replica honors Lamont Gaston who created the original memorial in honor of his brothers who fought in Vietnam. Retired Navy Chaplains and marines came to the ceremony to officially dedicate and reveal the memorial.

"Every time I walk out on my porch now, I can relive, I can actually relive the history that was created by Lamont Gasted the creator of the campground and the monument that formulated our togetherness," said Lynch.

Lynch says the lake was the perfect meeting place for him and his family to meet up with family from 100 miles away every weekend.