Education

Plans announced for Veterans’ Memorial in Riverside Park

Published

2 years ago

November 13, 2021

Riverside Park in downtown La Crosse could soon have another landmark…a sculpture and a Ring of Honor to recognize area veterans.

The La Crosse City Vision Foundation is seeking sponsors for the Veterans’ Memorial, which would be placed south of the site of the Eagle sculpture, currently out of the park being renovated.

Local artist Mike Martino has been commissioned to make a bronze and granite artwork, which would stand about 11 feet high.

The base of the statue would stand on a hexagon of bricks, which would be engraved with memorials and the names of donors. The hexagon could be expanded with new rings over time.

Don and Roxanne Weber and their family have already donated to the project, and the City Vision group is seeking more sponsors who would be willing to donate $10,000 each to be in the initial Ring of Honor.

The project has been in the planning stage for five years, and was slowed down by the pandemic. City Vision officials are hoping to have the dedication around the 4th of July next year, during Riverfest.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.