April 6, 2022

This proposal for a memorial honoring all veterans of the greater Ely community was prepared by a committee of Ely veterans and respectfully submitted for review.

For at least a decade, members of the St. Quentin Post of the American Legion have discussed the need for an all-veterans memorial to recognize and honor the veterans of Ely and the surrounding area.  A committee was formed to prepare a proposal for such a memorial.  This is the committee’s proposal.

The committee established several assumptions associated with the design of the monument.

• It will be a monument honoring all veterans in times of peace and war and past, present and future.
• As such, it will not be an American Legion monument but a community monument.
• Every attempt will be made to make for a dignified, striking and beautiful monument.
• Every attempt will be made that the monument message be timeless and enteral.
• The monument will honor veterans as well as recognize those who support them.
• The monument will be easy to maintain and require as little upkeep as possible.
• The monument will be placed in an easy to access, central location.
• As it is a monument to all veterans, sheer numbers mean veteran names will not be part of the edifice.
• Donations will be gladly accepted but not permanently acknowledged on the monument.
• The monument will become city property.

The monument proposed by the committee is a pylon style edifice or cenotaph. ‘Standing stone’ monuments have been used for thousands of years to mark and honor people, events, and cultural functions.  A stone monument creates a sense of sturdy permanence and timeless intention. To the viewer it is intuitive that the purpose of the monument is to convey deep devotion and appreciation.

The proposed monument is black marble for its striking appearance, timeless beauty, ease of maintenance and bright contrast when engraved. Black color represents power, strength, seriousness, and elegance.

The monument will be placed on a concrete pad that allows for easy maintenance and mowing.  A flagpole with a lit American flag will be placed behind the monument.  Holes for mounting other flags on holidays and special events will be placed in the concrete.

The monument’s location will meet certain criteria.  The location…

• Will in a central part of the community.
• Will be easy to access by foot, automobile and bicycle.
• Will not be overshadowed by buildings or other objects.

The cost of the marble monument, not including the concrete pad, flagpole, is estimated to be approximately $55,000 in the spring of 2024.

 

Monument Verbiage

FRONT

Let this monument testify today and to coming generations that the veterans of the Ely community have answered every call, endured every burden and borne every cost necessary to defend and maintain this free and undivided republic.

May their glory be as lasting as the nation they honored.

 

FRONT BELOW

In Honor of all who Served.

 

BACK

“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.”

 ~President Abraham Lincoln

 

BACK BELOW

Dedicated on [Date]

 

SIDE

“Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.”

~President Harry S Truman

 

SIDE

“Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.”

~Eleanor Roosevelt