Discover the Memorial
This memorial is not to honor war, but to show the price of peace lest future generations forget the sacrifices made to maintain freedom.
Decorah Mayor Lorraine Borowski and Veteran Glenn Larson broke ground for the project on September 28th, 2021
Sadly, there is only a small memorial just outside the Winneshiek Courthouse,
little known to residents and virtually unknown the rest of the state.
Prominent memorials around Iowa have proudly displayed engravings to honor their local veterans.
Here in Winneshiek county, few of us even know the current monument exists.
Men and women throughout Winneshiek County have answered the call to defend our liberties.
Many putting their lives on hold and too many, never returning to pick them back up.
A faded monument is all that exists to acknowledge and honor their service.
The Winneshiek County Veterans Memorial Association is changing this.
little known to residents and virtually unknown the rest of the state.
Prominent memorials around Iowa have proudly displayed engravings to honor their local veterans.
Here in Winneshiek county, few of us even know the current monument exists.
Men and women throughout Winneshiek County have answered the call to defend our liberties.
Many putting their lives on hold and too many, never returning to pick them back up.
A faded monument is all that exists to acknowledge and honor their service.
The Winneshiek County Veterans Memorial Association is changing this.
A large crowd of over 50 people attended the groundbreaking ceremony on September 28th, 2021.
|
 Left to Right: Collin White, Peggy Lensing, Maureen Yahr, Zach Row-Heyveld, Jessica Rediske, Glenn Larson, Ray
Seiler, Tade Kerndt, Roxanne Schnitzler.
Red-Roxy Quilt Co. recently hosted a Charity Quilt Sale featuring more than 200 quilts that have previously been displayed on the sales floor. Items included everything from table runners to full size projects in a variety of colors and
themes. The Winneshiek County Veterans Memorial Association received a donation of $1,635 from this event. |
Proposed Memorial - Lewiston Monument Company
With the support and coordination of the City of Decorah Park and Recreation, the WCVM will be building a memorial to honor each known Winneshiek County Veteran. This memorial will be located at the Mary Christopher Park - intersection of E Water St and First St in Decorah, Iowa.
We have gravestones scattered in Phelps Park and the names will soon be faded away. This project began because we realized we didn’t have a way to remember those in our area that sacrificed for our freedom. I'd be surprised if ten percent of area residents could find the current memorial. It is small and not easily accessible. After touring other area memorials, we found ours to be the saddest in the area, maybe the entire state. True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever the cost. |
Remembering Winneshiek Veterans"Bullets whistled about us like hail, hitting the boat and spattering all around." The Decorah Genealogy Association has already found thousands of names of Winneshiek County Veterans including:
|
Donate today. Don't let their names fade. You can make a difference. |
