Dr. Gale F. Fletchall - Junction City, OR
N 44° 13.065 W 123° 12.165
10T E 483804 N 4896078
A memorial rose garden dedicated to a founder of the annual Scandinavian Festival.
Waymark Code: WMYMH2
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 06/29/2018
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A small plaque located at the Gale F. Fletchall Memorial Rose Garden reads:
In Memory of
Dr. Gale F. Fletchall
Founder & Friend
Junction City is home to the annual Scandinavian Festival and their website (link below) highlights an award given out during the festival and reads:
Gale F. Fletchall Award
Who Was Gale F. Fletchall
The Founding Father of the Scandinavian Festival:
In 1955 Gale F. Fletchall and his wife move to Lane County, drawn here by a general practice internship offered at Sacred Heart Medical Center. He opened his practice in Junction City in 1956 and became the town’s doctor. After the opening of the I-5 corridor, Fletchall watched his beloved town slowly die out as businesses closed up due to lack of traffic. That is when he had the idea that would define him for the rest of his life.
His solution for a dying town was to bring everyone together to celebrate the town’s Scandinavian Heritage. Fletchall wanted a quality festival not a carnival, a safe place for families and friends to gather and enjoy good food and good company. Dr. Fletchall served on the Festival Board as President for many years, and even after he retired continued to serve as a vital part of Festival. His lifetime services to the community are still honored each year with the giving out of the Dr. Gale F. Fletchall Award to worthy individuals and/or organizations that continue his legacy.