Paving the way: Veterans Memorial renovation kicks off with 90% funds raised
Published 8:30 am Friday, August 2, 2024
Austin Packers football players removed pavers at the Veterans Memorial Friday morning to make way for the memorial’s renovation project. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Rob Lillis pulls a paver Friday morning at the Veterans Memorial. The pavers were being removed ahead of a renovation project of the memorial. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Henry Heers cleans off a paver after pulling it from its place in the Veterans Memorial Friday morning. The pavers were being removed ahead of the Memorial’s renovation project. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
A removed paver rests on a pallet after being pulled from the Veterans Memorial prior to work on a renovation project of the memorial. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Volunteers, including members of the Austin Packers football team, removed pavers at the Veterans Memorial ahead of the memorial’s renovation project in August. Herald file photo
The marble border of the pavers at the Veteran’s Memorial lay next to the pavers as the they were removed Friday morning ahead of the memorial’s renovation project. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Pavers at the Veterans Memorial get washed off as they were removed Friday ahead of the memorial’s renovation project. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
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On Friday morning, volunteers that included members of the Austin Packers football team, began the work of removing pavers at the Veterans Memorial to make way for the memorial’s renovation project that will provide a whole new look to the site.
When completed, the 1,200 pavers will be arranged off the ground on steel structures that will hold the pavers at a 45 degree angle making them easier to view.
The new layout will also make it possible to add another 700 pavers if required, something that couldn’t be done now within the current arrangement. Already there are 50 pavers on preorder.
Mike Ruzek, of Mower County Veterans Memorial Incorporated, said the project was 90% funded with the total cost of the project expected to be around $210,000.
“It’s such a relief,” Ruzek said in getting the project started.
The memorial was established in 1990 and featured on a wall the names of Mower County residents who died serving their nation.
Then, in 2008, the Walk of Remembrance was established as pavers began being added, representing anybody who wished to enshrine a loved one who served whether they were in Mower County or not.
That led to the bronze sculpture now enshrined at the memorial as well as the eagle statue on a pedestal, flags representing the branches of the military and a flag honoring those missing in action.
“I think it means a lot,” Ruzek said. “There are people that look at it all the time and it’s been a backdrop for things like National Day of Prayer.”
However, about three, four years ago the group started looking at the idea of renovation after people were coming forward with complaints about weeds growing up between pavers and the pavers being pushed out of place due to shifting in the ground.
“We were running into maintenance issues and criticism and some of that criticism was justified,” Ruzek said. “We didn’t want to do another wall — it would have been confusing for people.”
This new renovation should take care of many of those issues and has gained support from throughout the community.
Right out of the gate, the project saw support for the new look with Mower County committing $50,000 to go along with the Mower County Veterans Memorial Board’s own contribution of $20,000.
On top of that, the VFW Post 1216 donated another $20,000 and Ruzek said they’ve received seven additional private donations to the tune of $10,000.
“It’s gratifying. I think the real momentum is the genuine appreciation for people who have served our country,” Ruzek said. “I think it’s also the credibility of the people to put together a good plan.”
While there is no official time table as to when the project might be completed, Ruzek hopes that at the very latest it will be ready by Memorial Day in 2025.
