Vets’ memorial a labor of love
Published 7:54 am Thursday, September 9, 2010
Jeff Anderson, owner of Anderson Memorial, landscapes along a row of pavers at the Veteran's Memorial Wednesday afternoon. The dedication for the revamped memorial will be Saturday at 11 a.m. --Eric.Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
In a ceremony that has been 20 years in the making, the Mower County Veterans Memorial Committee will dedicate the Mower County Veterans’ Memorial this Saturday, Sept. 11, at 11 a.m.
“After 20 years of waiting for the finished aspect, there’s really renewed interest in the memorial,” said Jeff Anderson, owner of Anderson Memorial and designer of the statue that was recently added to the memorial.
The sidewalks leading to the statue, which is the focus of the memorial, are lined with black granite pavers bearing the names of men and women who have served in the armed forces. The first paver was laid in May 2010 and now 570 pavers line the sidewalks, Anderson said.
The new bronze statue rests in place at the Veteran's Memorial Wednesday afternoon. The statue and pavers will be dedicated Saturday at 11 a.m.
The veterans committee determined that they would need to sell 600 pavers — at $300 a piece — to fund the statue, and all money raised from sales after that will be placed in a perpetual care endowment fund for maintenance of the memorial.
Norm Hecimovich, acting chair of the committee, said that finishing the memorial has been a difficult task, but one that has been well worth it.
“It’s so important that we are able to identify our veterans,” Hecimovich said. “These people who have served this great country are our heroes.”
Committee member Ron Hanson echoed Hecimovich’s sentiment.
“I really get excited about this,” Hanson said. “And it’s appropriate for all the different trades that we dedicate it on 9/11.”
Anderson, who has designed and built over 30 veterans’ memorials throughout the country, expressed excitement and pride for the upcoming dedication.
“There should be a larger crowd than we have at a Memorial Day service,” he said.
Anderson said future additions to the memorial will include signage with the name of the memorial, along with flags and flag poles representing each branch of service.
Austin resident Pat Swenson, whose husband and brother have pavers dedicated to their service, said she is looking forward to the dedication and hopes there will be a good turnout Saturday.
“I just think it’s a wonderful occasion that they’re honoring these people,” she said, motioning to the pavers.
Anderson said the project has run smoothly and has also been fun.
“We’ve been looking forward to this day,” Anderson said. “We hope people really come here often and feel the spirit that’s here.”
