Veterans memorial dedicated

Nobody would have believed, if told ahead of time, that the rain clouds would split and the sun would shine when Terry Andreessen took the stage and two rainbows would appear in the grey-blue sky just as the ceremony ended.

But more than 400 people who showed up at Riverfront Park on Memorial Day to dedicate the new veterans monument watched the weather turn from mournful to uplifting to healing while several decorated servicemen paid tribute to their fallen brothers-in-arms.

Ken Mancuso, a Marine Corps veteran, led off the ceremony by telling the crowd about the origins of the bronze and granite veterans monument, which stands more than 12 feet tall in the middle of two circles of bricks bearing the names of military service members from Lincoln County and beyond.

“For some time, a group of veterans had been talking amongst themselves and wondering why there wasn’t a veterans memorial in Libby,” Mancuso said as a slow drizzle pelted the podium. “In June of 2012, myself, Terry Andreessen, Dennis Osborne and Brent Teske met at Antlers Restaurant and decided it was time.”

In less than two years since then, the newly formed Lincoln County Veterans Memorial Foundation Committee raised nearly $150,000 to create a lasting memorial to the fallen and living members of the U.S. military. The statue was placed in Riverfront Park just prior to Veterans Day of 2013, although many of the memorial’s features were completed more recently.

The memorial includes a life-sized bronze statue of a World War II-era soldier pulling a wounded, modern-era soldier to safety as they return fire. The design of the statue was drawn by local artist Todd Berget; the mold for the bronze was shaped by local sculptor Scott Lennard.

The statue stands atop a five-sided granite slab that displays the official seals of each branch of the U.S. military. Five granite benches surround the perimeter; four of them are engraved with the names of donors, and one is engraved with the names of military service members from Lincoln County who were killed in action.

Dean House, the senior vice-commander of the Montana Division of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, listed off the names of dozens of famous battlefields where Americans lost their lives and told the crowd “when you study those places, think of this place.”

“As you look around this memorial, you see many textures, including granite, large boulders, bronze, bricks, concrete and grass,” he said. “Each of these textures offers its own particular component to this monument. The granite with its unyielding surface. The boulders that surround the park with strength and determination. The reinforced concrete with its ruggedness. And the grass that adds a softness that tends to surround the power generating from this place. All of these characteristics are said of the American soldier.”

Mancuso explained that the bronze monument at the center of it all has three themes: the passing of the torch to defend our nation, our freedom and the Constitution of the United States of America; never giving up; and never leaving anyone behind.

“In two years the memorial went from an idea to what you see here,” Mancuso said. “This would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of many, as well as the gracious donations we have received.”

Andreessen, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, introduced a couple of members of his Army platoon who had traveled thousands of miles to see the memorial dedication – Tom Luedde from Missouri and Chuck “Doc” Landwehr from Wisconsin.

“These two men fought beside me in Vietnam in 1969,” Andreessen said. “They are the real deal, ladies and gentlemen. I can confirm that they are true American heroes.”

Andreessen said combat veterans have to do horrible things to survive, “and those demons never leave.”

“The day is hardest on the ones who felt the warmth of their blood as their heart stopped. Only our survivors can fully comprehend the significance of their great sacrifice,” Andreessen said, quoting from an email he had received years ago. “We owe an un-payable debt to all of our veterans. Be grateful we live in a nation where there are so many willing to sacrifice to keep us free.”

Former U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns gave the keynote speech from his wheelchair after suffering a stroke not long ago. His words were both humorous and inspiring, and his message was right on point for the occasion.

“I can remember when I was in college at the University of Missouri in 1951 during the early part of Korea, and you had to have a certain grade-point average to stay out of the draft. Well, I was going to get drafted – that gives you some clue there about how smart I am,” Burns said. “So, I went down and joined the United States Marine Corps.”

Burns recounted a story about an exceptionally intelligent young man whom he had mentored years ago. The man was taking part in a question-and-answer session in front of a committee at a military academy when he was asked if he knew what happened at Valley Forge. The young man, embarrassed, had to admit that he didn’t.

“Nobody could top his ability to learn, but he had never been taught what happened at Valley Forge,” Burns said. “So, I would tell you that this monument is a reminder to us and maybe the people who teach history in our high schools.”

Burns wrapped up the event by reminding the crowd that many heroic people gave their lives to ensure the freedom we have today.

“My message is thank you Lincoln County and thank you Libby for this treasure we have behind us that will serve as an example of your spirit,” Burns said. “No matter how you look at it, it’s the last two lines of our National Anthem that are really special. I’ll leave you with this thought: We cannot live in the land of the free unless we are the home of the brave. And thank God Almighty, we are.”

After the dedication ceremony, Mancuso put his arm around military widow Barbara Tripp and spun her around so she could see the two bright rainbows that appeared in the eastern sky just over the Kootenai River.

“Take a look at that,” Mancuso said. “That’s got to mean something.”