The Starke County Commissioners reviewed a proposed resolution Monday night for the upcoming Veteran’s Memorial project.
The resolution provides that since the new memorial will be built on county property, which is now the southeast corner of the Starke County Courthouse square, there needed to be governmental authority to proceed with the project. County Attorney Marty Lucas said that the Starke County Park Board would be the best fit and read into the record the Park Board’s responsibilities.
“The commissioners hereby delegate the Starke County Park Board primary responsibility for overseeing the construction and maintenance of the new monument and the appropriate management of donations, gifts and grants in support of the project,” said Lucas. “The Park Board shall oversee the drafting and execution of an appropriate site agreement governing the maintenance, operation and use of the new memorial as well as formal rules governing the inclusion of names on the monument and including appeals from decisions.”
The resolution also allows the Park Board to appoint a stakeholder committee. Monthly reports will be given to the commissioners during the commissioners meeting on the first Monday of the month during the project. The Park Board will oversee all donations toward the project which don’t include taxpayer dollars.
The current committee members include Starke County Councilman and Veteran Bob Sims, Commissioners Kathy Norem and Bryan Cavender, Knox City Councilman and Veteran Jeff V. Berg, Mark Smith, Jay Weinberg, and Benjamin Garcia.
The Veteran’s Memorial will include names of Starke County soldiers killed in action in wars and conflicts dating back to the Civil War. Those names will be etched in black granite situated inside a larger curved granite wall placed upon a flat, ADA-compliant surface with reflective benches and appropriate lighting. The United States flag and flags from all of the branches of the military will be placed there and illuminated with the same LED lighting planned around the proposed project. A bronze eagle sitting atop a black granite pillar containing the name of Medal of Honor recipient Frank Ono will welcome visitors into the memorial.
The commissioners approved the resolution with a unanimous vote.
Commemorative bricks can be purchased for $150, and the benches that are anticipated to contain the emblem of the military branches or maps can be sponsored for $10,000. Order forms will be available soon.
The Knox VFW Post #748 has authorized the donation of $57,000, which will allow the project to get started. The committee members will present the information to the Knox American Legion Post #131 for consideration of a donation on Thursday night.
The project is anticipated to break ground on Memorial Day with the completion date of Nov. 11, Veteran’s Day.
The current memorial and monuments will remain on the southwest corner of the courthouse square. Since the new monument will now be constructed on the southeast corner of the courthouse square, one tree needs to be removed which will be done by the Starke County Highway Department. Three trees that were already removed from the southwest corner will be replaced with new trees. Commissioner Norem noted that of the three trees that were removed one was dead and another was diseased.
For now, those wanting to donate toward the project can call the Auditor’s Office at 574-772-9101. Donations are tax-deductible.
