By Cindy Gladden, Record Staff Writer
The Warren County Veterans Memorial is much closer to becoming a reality with the completion of the centerpiece statues.On Thursday, June 15, board members of the memorial committee gathered at Liberty Art Works in Dutzow for a much anticipated unveiling.Robert Daus, founder of Liberty Art Works, and his family team were chosen to create the bronze statues of a mother and son, a Gold Star family, who will forever gaze at the memorial wall, and the battlefield cross — boots, rifle and helmet of a remembered soldier.Liberty Art Works is known for its dedication to firefighters and law enforcement personnel by creating memorial firefighter axes, commemorative items, statues and monuments.One of its largest monuments was erected at the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock. A custom ax made by Daus was presented to President Donald Trump April 13 by the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department.“Their product was very unique,” said committee member Wendell Webb about Liberty Art Works. “It has to be very accurate. They do such a quality job.”Daus, a Vietnam veteran and former firefighter, said the project was very personal.“My son and I worked together on this,” he said. “It’s got to be right. It will be here forever.”Daus encouraged committee members to touch the statues and absorb every detail after the unveiling. Mother and son stand side by side, holding hands as they gaze at the battlefield cross and memorial wall that will be placed in front of them. The little boy clenches an American flag.Rick Mantione, president of the tribute committee, could hardly take his eyes off the statues, saying that the wait and hard work was worth it.“The purpose is to thank the guys who didn’t come home and their families that lost them forever,” he said. “They were just kids. They never fulfilled their dreams. We want people to realize the joy of living in an open and free society provided by these veterans.”The Daus family spent a lot of time researching the details that would bring the statues alive and remind viewers of the 1960s. The mother and child will stand nearest the Vietnam era.Every inch of the statues has been planned to be as real as possible. You can almost expect to feel the wool on the mother’s skirt or the denim on the boy’s jeans. The Daus family wants visitors to see their attention to detail and feel the emotions on the Gold Star family’s faces.“The detail is just outstanding,” said committee member Tom Carter. “It tells the story, does it not?”“I visit a lot of memorials,” said Webb. “Iwo Jima and this are on the same scale as far as accuracy. It puts a lump in your throat.”The statues, approximately 900 pounds combined, will be erected at 428 Veterans Memorial Parkway in Warrenton sometime next summer. The site will overlook Highway 70, the “Purple Heart Trail.”The memorial wall, 18 feet of Missouri red granite with a black granite inlay, will honor more than 70 Warren County veterans who lost their lives serving in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.Six service flags will fly over the site, encircling the monument.“Some Gave All” will be engraved on the monument with 12-inch cast bronze lettering.Benches will be provided around the monument. Two parking lots will be available to visitors, including handicapped accessibility.Webb said Bart Berneking Design of Troy has provided the architectural support for the memorial site, including the rendition drawing, engineering, blueprints and how the statues will be placed.A groundbreaking ceremony will be held Friday, June 30, at the site.People may contribute to the memorial by purchasing special commemorative bricks for the Walk of Honor. For $150 people may choose a variety of tributes to be etched on their brick. Mantione said the brick does not need to be the name of a local veteran. Each brick can contain up to three lines of 20 characters each.“It can be any veteran’s name or just someone’s family name,” said Mantione. “It can even be a sentiment like ‘God Bless America.’”The committee will put in the order for the pavers near the end of the year, so they encourage anyone interested in contributing to visit tributetoveteransmemorial.org or call Mantione at 636-456-0026. There will also be a booth at the Warren County Fair in early July with information on the memorial.This year’s Warren County Fair theme is “Some Gave All,” also honoring the veterans of Warren County. The fair will be held Sunday, July 2, to Saturday, July 8.Members of the Tribute to Veterans Memorial Board of Directors and the statue's creators celebrated its unveiling at Liberty Art Works Thursday, June 15. Pictured, from left, are Pat and Bob Daus, Rick Mantione, Tom Carter, Beth Vincent, Ralph Hellebusch, Wendell Webb and Lloyd Wideman. Record photo/ Cindy Gladden.
The bronze statue of a little boy is the creation of Bob Daus and his team at Liberty Art Works in Dutzow. The studio specializes in commemorative items and monuments honoring firefighters, first responders and veterans. The statue of the Gold Star family will be the centerpiece of the Warren County Veterans Memorial. Record Photo/Cindy Gladden.
An unveiling of the bronze statues for the Warren County Veterans Memorial were unveiled Thursday, June 15, at Liberty Art Works in Dutzow. The mother and child, representing a Gold Star family suffering the loss of their service member during war, will be the centerpiece of the memorial to be complete by next summer. A goundbreaking for the site will be held Thursday, June 30, at 428 Veterans Memorial Parkway in Warrenton. Record photo/Cindy Gladden.
