2023 Veterans Memorial

Project Details

Description

The American Legion Park Veterans Memorial Task Force was formally established on April 11, 2022, with a purpose of recommending a final design and location of the Veterans Memorial in American Legion Park.

Background

In 1989 the Le Sueur VFW Post 4297 erected a memorial monument for our local servicemen who died in conflicts and placed it in Legion Park. While this was forward thinking on their part, over 5 years ago, the VFW and American Legion started discussing adding to the memorial to have a place to honor those that served and were honorably discharged. The memorial will also have a sidewalk leading to it making it handicap accessible.

In the summer of 2022, a task force was formed with local Veterans to start the planning and concept of an expanded Le Sueur Veterans Memorial. The City of Le Sueur offered up space in the “triangle” area of Legion Park to move the current memorial and expand on it, which will make it visible from the road and give the memorial its own dedicated space.

The task force decided on 3 things they wanted in the design of the memorial. First, they wanted to honor the current memorial. Secondly, they wanted to have a place to honor all that served regardless of whether they were passed or still living, and third they wanted to honor our military services.

City Engineer, Cory Bienfang of Bolton & Menk worked tirelessly on creating various versions of concepts before the task force settled on the final design. The task force also wanted to ensure that the memorial would be able to grow throughout the years and be something the community could still be proud of 40-50 years down the road.

Concept Documents

The concept plan starts with a 50-foot circle with the original memorial in the center. There will be space in a middle circle area for granite memorial panels on which individuals can purchase a space to honor their veterans. The front area of the memorial will have three flag poles for the American Flag, Minnesota Flag, and the POW/MIA Flag. Surrounding the back of the circle will be the flags of the military services. Flowers and greenery will help break up the cement and granite.

The task force is now working with Bolton & Menk on the final design and engineering for the memorial with more details to come. The initial estimate of building the memorial is $330,000. Proceeds from the Memorial Name Stone applications also go towards the fundraising of the memorial.