It used to be that war veterans of Warren County were recognized by having their names listed on a plaque that hung in the old courthouse, but a number of citizens realized that wasn’t good enough.After the plaque came down, the VFW asked Tom Carter, Rick Mantione and Dennis VanBibber to research what could be done to honor the veterans of Warren County.After five years, that group evolved into the committee for the Tribute to Veterans Memorial of Warren County. The group, with the blessing of county officials, started planning a bigger, more lasting and tangible memorial to veterans of Warren County who lost their lives while serving in wartime.Every soldier who dies in theater leaves behind a Gold Star family. Beth Vincent, committee treasurer, is a Gold Star daughter. Her dad was an Air Force fighter pilot in the Korean War who went missing in action. For her, and others like her, there is no burial plot to visit.“No matter how long it’s been, you still have that loss,” Vincent said. “The memorial will hopefully bring peace and closure. It will help families with their loss.”Mantione, committee president, describes the memorial as an 18-foot-long wall engraved with the names of 71 Warren County soldiers who died during wartime. The wall is made of Missouri red granite. Pavers, LED lighting, flagpoles and landscaping will be added.Liberty Art Works in Dutzow is designing a bronze statue of a mother with her child and the Battlefield Cross, the symbol of a lost soldier, to illustrate the Gold Star family.They expect to break ground in spring or summer of 2017.Wendell Webb is a veteran, committee member and historian.“So many from (World War I and World War II soldiers) died in a foreign country were buried there or missing in action. This Missouri red granite wall brings them home for a county to pay tribute and learn,” said Webb.Webb has researched the people and families behind the names. Now, he said, he sees the faces and stories behind them. Eventually, his research will be part of the memorial.“This memorial is a tool for education. Your history books in school, libraries and historical societies do not have all the history to be displayed at this memorial,” he said.Earlier projections show construction costs for the memorial at about $340,000. Mantione said that number will change, up or down, when the group receives its final construction bids.In the beginning, the American Legion, Elks Club, Marine Corps League and VFW were donating funds for the project, but as plans for a larger memorial expanded, fundraising efforts also expanded.The group has raised almost $180,000 by reaching out to organizations, businesses and individuals in six counties.Missouri Bank is matching donations from businesses up to $20,000. The announcement prompted donations from Gastorf Chevrolet, Imo’s and a few more.Part of the memorial includes a walk of honor, which circles the memorial and is a tribute and fundraising effort itself. They have 1,500 pavers available for sponsorship. While anyone can sponsor a paver for anyone — a family, individual, group, etc. — pavers that honor military veterans will receive preferential treatment.“(Because it’s a veterans memorial and) we’re on the Purple Heart Trail, we’d like to see as many veterans’ names as possible on the walk,” Mantione said. “But anyone can purchase a paver.”Pavers are $150 each and they have space for three lines with up to 20 characters each.Tom Parker, who joined the group back when the plaque came down at the old courthouse, is proud of the direction things went.Not too many states or counties have their own veterans memorial.“Doing this says something about us. That we can build this and not forget our veterans. We honor them,” Parker said.Webb added, “For those of us who returned from war, we got a chance to create and live a better life while these 71 lives were shorten by war and should be remembered.”When construction is complete, the memorial will be dedicated and given to the county.For more information, visit http://www.tributetoveteransmemorial.org/ or call Rick 636-456-0026.

Kate Miller photo.