Memorial Park
VETERANS
30 June/July 2022 • Vacationer
Built to serve as a public place for celebration or a quiet place for private reflection and healing, the Veterans Memorial Park honors veterans of all branches of the United States Armed Forces. Located on the corner of Eighth Avenue and Broadway Street, Veterans Memorial Park is a beautiful landmark and a source of contemplation and inspiration for all visitors. This park is the dream child of a group of veterans and has been built through the donations from individuals and organizations and grants. The focal point of the memorial is a life-size granite replica of the Liberty Bell standing in the middle of a 60-foot-wide pentagon star representing the five main branches of the Department of Defense. The bell and base are about 9 feet tall, about 6-1/2 feet in diameter and weigh about 40,000 pounds. Nine flagpoles display the flags of the United States of America, POWMIA, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine and the Minnesota flag. Standing in the park are stone memorials containing the names of veterans, past and present, dating back to the Declaration of Independence. To date, more than 7,000
names have been compiled, with nearly 3,000 still living in the county.
DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS ▶ Granite tablets honoring all donors who contributed over $200. ▶ A single granite tablet honoring veterans of Alexandria Industries. ▶ Engravings in granite on the base of the Liberty Bell list “freedom, honor, justice, liberty and peace.” ▶ The motto, “Let No Veteran Be Forgotten,” is affixed to the Veterans Wall of Honor. ▶ Special bronze plaques honor John Wedum, Terence Kjos, veterans of Douglas Machine, and combat veterans. ▶ A granite tablet honors Special Combatants, acknowledging names of local veterans exposed to extraordinary hardships while defending the country. ▶ Granite benches recognizing individual veterans – Dorothy Lee, Joe Koopman, Leander Hens, Louis Grosenick, Virgil Batesole, Warren Gust and sons of Gust. ▶ A Veterans Wall of Honor includes seven 24-inch bronze service insignias: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard and Merchant Marine.
