HARLAN -- Family, friends, community members and government officials will be on hand Friday, May 22 to officially dedicate the G.H. Christiansen subdivision and Gary Scull Drive in the new Dye Street Housing project in north Harlan.
      The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which will be held at 9:30 a.m.
      The dedication is a long-time coming as the Dye Street project finally has come to a close, with lots soon to be open for sale to the public for housing development.
      The subdivision is named after current Mayor Gary Christiansen, who has served the city for 10 years as mayor. Prior to being elected mayor, Christiansen served on the Harlan City Council for eight years, and also served on the Harlan Parks and Recreation Board for eight years. Christiansen and his wife, Judy, have lived in Harlan for many years. Judy is an elementary school teacher in the Harlan Community Schools. Gary is retired from the U.S. Postal Service.
      Also to be dedicated Friday within the subdivision will be Scull Drive, named after Captain Gary B. Scull, who was killed in action in Vietnam.
      Scull lived most of his life in Harlan, graduating from Harlan High School in 1958. He then attended Bethel College in St. Paul, Mn., where he majored in political science.
      He then entered the Peace Corps, serving in Tunisia, and upon returning to the United States, worked for the Washington Post. Bitten by the travel bug, and always having the urge to travel, Scull quit his job at the Post and traveled the world for 2 1/2 years before coming home and enlisting in the Army.
      He was sent to Vietnam in 1969 as part of the Advisory Team #3 Military Assistance Command. He was an assistant battalion advisor for the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 1st Division Army of the Republic of Vietnam.
      He was on duty guarding the Khe Gio Bridge on Highway 9 March 12, 1970, when the area came under heavy enemy ground attack. Scull's bunker took two direct hits, and when last seen, Scull was inside the bunker attempting to establish radio contact with higher headquarters.
      Scull was never found following an extensive search of the area, nor were his remains. He remained missing in action for 10 years until the Army established the date of his death as October 16, 1978. He was promoted to Captain during the years he was missing.
      The dedication Friday will include presentations by Mayor Christiansen, as well as city councilman Dave Miller, who will talk about Scull and the deciation of the street in his honor.