Bronze statue to be informally unveiled at Riverfront Park

An informal unveiling of the Veterans Memorial is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, Veterans Day, in Riverfront Park. While the project is not complete, the presentation will introduce the bronze statue that will serve as the centerpiece of the memorial.

Crafted by Scott Lennard, the life-size statue shows a World War II soldier pulling an American soldier in Iraq to safety as the modern soldier continues firing.

Five granite benches, lighting and more bricks are yet to be installed. Another 100 bricks have been sold but are yet to be laid. The money left to be raised will primarily complete payment for the statue.

“The statue represents the attitude of never leaving a man behind and never quitting the fight,” Andreessen said.

Donors may choose to contribute $250, $500, $1,000 or $5,000. Donors names will be engraved into one of the four granite benches. The fifth bench will show the names of every soldier ever killed in action since World War I from Lincoln County.

A formal dedication is planned for Memorial Day 2014.

“It has been very gratifying and humbling working on a piece like this,” Lennard said. “Through this process I have gained a greater understanding of the sacrifice veterans made for us.”

Those interested in contributing may call Timberline Auto Center at 293-4128 or Kootenai Cobbler at 293-9211.

When all is in place, the memorial will stand 12 feet high — the six-foot statue on top of a six-foot granite base.