In the lead-up to opening a new grocery store in Warrenton, Schnuck Markets Inc. has donated $30,000 to a memorial honoring Warren County veterans.Schnucks representatives presented the donation to the Tribute to Veterans Memorial committee Monday, June 18.“The donation from Schnucks has put us into the comfort zone to go ahead and be able to complete the memorial this year,” said Wendell Webb, chairman of the memorial’s building committee. He said the donation will help finish the payment for the wall that will be the centerpiece of the memorial.The Tribute to Veterans Memorial will feature a red granite wall engraved with the names of Warren County veterans who died in service. Statues of a mother and child will be placed facing the boots, helmet and rifle that symbolize a fallen soldier. Engraved pavers sold as part of fundraising for the memorial will form the walkway at the site.The memorial site is on Veterans Memorial Parkway, about a quarter mile west of where the Schnucks store is being built.Schnucks Division Manager West Ewing said the donation to the memorial is both personal because of family ties to the military, and part of Schnucks’ broader efforts to support veterans.“When they asked me about participating, I did not hesitate,” said Ewing. “It’s one of those things that you can really stand proud and get behind, and I’m really glad to do this.”Schnucks is in the midst of a program of collecting donations from customers to provide educational scholarships for the spouses and children of fallen and disabled soldiers. Schnuck Markets Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck said in a press release that the donation in Warrenton is another sign of the company’s appreciation for military veterans.“We want Warren County residents to know that our commitment to Warrenton, and to the men and women of our armed forces, is strong,” said Schnuck. “Our company making this donation to the Warren County Veterans Memorial is an opportunity for us to join our customers in saying ‘thank you’ for all that our military veterans do to keep us safe and to keep our country free.”The veterans memorial and the Schnucks store both are expected to be complete and open to the public later this year. Schnucks is the 12th major donor to support the memorial, Webb said.To date, Webb said the organization has identified 72 former Warren County residents who served in conflicts from World War I to the present, whose names will be engraved on the memorial wall.

Schnucks representatives met with the Warren County Tribute to Veterans Memorial organization Monday to present a $30,000 donation for the memorial to be built later this year. Pictured, from left, are Schnucks Vice President of Store Planning, Construction and Maintenance John Behr, Schnucks Division Manager West Ewing, and memorial building Chairman Wendell Webb. 

Record photo/Adam Rollins

Schnucks representatives donated $30,000 for the Tribute to Veterans Memorial on Monday, June 18. Pictured, at center, are Schnucks Division Manager West Ewing and Vice President of Store Planning, Construction and Maintenance John Behr. Schnucks was given a certificate of appreciation from the veterans memorial organization. 

Record photo/Adam Rollins