By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorSixty-four soldiers with Warren County ties paid the ultimate sacrifice when they went to war and never returned.An effort to have a veterans memorial constructed will make sure they are never forgotten.A final design for the tribute has been unveiled and now a fundraising campaign is underway.The proposed project is designed to honor local veterans who were either killed in action, missing in action or prisoners of war. It will be built near the corner of Highway 47 and Mockingbird Lane, on county-owned property next to the administration building.The memorial project is a joint effort of veteran organizations throughout the county, including the American Legion Post 122, Warrenton; American Legion Post 180, Marthasville; Marine Corps League Detachment 1393, Warrenton; VFW Post 2180, Warrenton; and the Elks Lodge 2662, Warrenton.Local veterans have formed a group called Tribute to Veterans Memorial, which has received its nonprofit designation, to spearhead the project.“This is a community-wide effort,” said Tom Carter, VFW member. “It’s not about us. We’re the fortunate ones. It’s about the ones who sacrificed their lives.”The veterans memorial will feature a Missouri-mined rough-cut stone wall with the words “Some Gave All” etched onto the front, with the names of the deceased soldiers on the other side. At the base of the stone wall will be a reflecting pool with a stone waterfall on each end. Flags representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Merchant Marines will be on the outer perimeter of the monument, with the American and POW flags as the centerpiece. Each flag will be illuminated.The memorial will also include two bronze statues — a mother and a child — standing beside a battlefield cross.“It will be something the county can be proud of,” VFW member Rick Mantione said.“It had a price. It was paid in blood and tears.”So far, 64 soldiers’ names are planned to be etched into the proposed memorial. All of the soldiers were killed in action — 29 in World War I, 30 in World War II, four in Vietnam and one in Iraq.Additional names can be added as long as certain criteria is met and approved by a committee that has been formed.“We hope to be inclusive,” Carter said. “Were trying to bring comfort to families.”The group has been working for a couple of years to finalize the design of the memorial. They feel they have one that has will be eye-catching to visitors and motorists driving by.“It was a process,” Carter said. “We pooled a lot of ideas. We feel this is an appropriate concept to present. There has been quite a bit of time and effort put into this design.”The fundraising goal is $250,000, though organizers hope the overall project cost can be reduced through donated labor and supplies. Any extra funds received will be used to maintain the memorial.Approximately $14,000 has been raised so far, with $10,000 of that coming from a donation made in 2011 by the Carpenters Local 3202 to cover the cost of all seven flagpoles.Organizers plan to build the memorial in stages, with the hope that work will start in September.Various fundraising events are scheduled to be held and donations will be accepted at community events, such at the Warren County Farm Heritage Days on Aug. 9-10 and at Strassenbash in September.Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to the Tribute to Veterans Memorial group at P.O. Box 57, Warrenton, MO 63383 or to The Missouri Bank, P.O. Box 400, Warrenton, MO 63383. Online donations can also be made at the organization’s website at tributetoveteransmemorial.org.“We want everyone to participate and have ownership in this,” Carter said.The Tribute to Veterans Memorial group plans on talking to other civic and community groups to generate interest in the project.For more information about the veterans memorial or to schedule a presentation by the group, people may contact Carter at 636-359-4335 or Mantione at 636-456-0026.“People are touched when you go one-on-one and explain the purpose,” Carter said.“People are very touched by it and supportive. We feel strongly for it. It’s the right memorial, the right site, the right timing.”How to helpTax-deductible donations can be mailed to the Tribute to Veterans Memorial group at P.O. Box 57, Warrenton, MO 63383 or to The Missouri Bank, P.O. Box 400, Warrenton, MO 63383. Online donations can also be made at the organization’s website at tributetoveteransmemorial.org.By the NumbersBelow is the current number of soldiers from Warren County known have been killed in action.29 – World War I; 30 – World War II; 4- Vietnam; 1 – IraqTribute to Veterans Memorial