JACKSON VETERANS' MEMORIAL WORK TO START

JACKSON -- The first phase of construction of a Veterans' Memorial in Jackson is scheduled to begin next week.

Gwen Winningham, chairman of the Memorial to Veterans of All Wars Committee, said the 36-foot diameter concrete foundation for the memorial will be poured next week, weather permitting.

"All of the contracts have been signed and we're ready to go," Winningham said.

Construction of the foundation coincides with the second mailing of a fund-raising letter mailed last week to local businesses, asking for their support for the memorial. "The phone has been ringing all morning with replies to our letter," said Winninghim.

Winningham said response to a first mailing of the fund-raising letter several months ago "was overwhelming."

"We mailed over 700 letters, most of them to individuals. Since then, we've received over $6,000 in donations and requests to honor family members, relatives or close friends who served in the armed forces of the United States," Winningham said.

She said the $6,000 is part of an overall goal of $30,000. The project is designed so that phases of the memorial can be built and completed as funds are obtained.

"After the foundation has been poured, the next phase is to raise money for the purchase of the granite stones," Winningham said. "While that's going on, the committee is preparing to make final selection of plans for the memorial chapel that will be the last phase of the memorial construction project."

Winningham said the committee hopes funds can be raised this fall and winter so the granite stones can be purchased and engraved in time for a planned dedication of the memorial on Memorial Day next year.

Winningham said the work of the memorial committee is supported by Jackson American Legion Post 158 and its auxiliary and Jackson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10495 and its auxiliary.

The memorial, which will honor living and deceased veterans of all wars, will be built on the first terrace of the 40-acre park situated behind Brookside Motel on Highway 61 North. The memorial has been approved by the Jackson Park Board and Board of Aldermen.

The memorial will face northwest toward the highway, and consist of a concrete circular walkway around an American flag pole with three 9-foot-tall curved, rectangular granite stones on each side of the walkway.

On each stone will be engraved the crests of all branches of the armed forces: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, their reserve components, the Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine Service.

One of the stones will have the first verse of "Taps" engraved on it while another stone will have engraved the first verse of "America the Beautiful." Winningham said Chris Liley of Marble Hill will engrave the stones. Several marble benches will be put around the circle walkway, which will include an "Avenue of Flags."

In the center of the walkway, next to the flagpole, hedges will be planted that will display a brilliant orange during the summer.

The paved esplanade will lead from a wooded area at the edge of the park into the center of the memorial.

Winningham said the names of the veterans honored or memorialized will be inscribed on plaques mounted on the inside walls of the memorial chapel.

Winningham said contributions and requests have been received to honor veterans of the Revolutionary War (1775-1783); the Civil War (1861-1865); the Spanish-American War (1898); World War I (April 1917-November 1918); World War II (December 1941-December 1946); the Korean conflict (June 1950-July 1953); the Vietnam conflict (August 1964-January 1973); and Operation Desert Storm (August 1990-April 1991).

"So far the only wars that we have not had any requests to honor veterans are the War of 1812 (1812-1815) and the Mexican War (1846-1848)" she said.

Donations have also been received from citizens and organizations without any service designation or particular veteran.

"We're not limiting this to residents of Cape Girardeau County," said Winningham. "Anyone can contribute to the memorial and honor a veteran of their choice. Anybody who wore the uniform of the armed forces of the United States and carried our flag is eligible.

"This memorial is our way of saying thank-you to the men and women who served their country in time of war. It will be a monument funded by the people and not by the government."

Winningham said anyone who would like to make a donation and honor a veteran should call 243-7186 during the day or 243-8224 at night. You may also write to: Memorial to Veterans of All Wars, Box 596, Jackson, Mo. 63755.