Roselle Veterans Memorial nearly complete

After nearly two years and roughly $250,000 in donations, the group building a Veterans Memorial in downtown Roselle is poised to display the finished product.

Members of the Roselle Veterans Memorial Committee say the installation of two bronze statues next week is all that's needed to complete the memorial along Irving Park Road at Park Street.

A dedication ceremony already is planned for 10 a.m. June 27 at the site.

"It's with great satisfaction that we've able to bring it to completion," committee Chairman Don Smolinski said. "It took the work of a lot of dedicated people."

Members of American Legion Post 1084 approached village trustees with the memorial idea in August 2013. The village agreed to locate it at Depot Park, which since has been renamed Veterans Memorial Park.

Smolinski said the project is significant for two main reasons.

"It's important to honor and recognize all the members of the Roselle community who have served," Smolinski said. "It's also important to recognize all the military personnel who have given their lives for our country."

To help raise money, the American Legion sold "honor bricks" and "sponsor bricks."

The honor bricks, which bear the names of veterans, are placed immediately surrounding the memorial. Sponsor bricks purchased by companies and individuals are located in other areas around the memorial.

Smolinski said the response has been very positive.

"Money wasn't just raised by veterans or the American Legion," he said. "Many community members and businesses contributed cash and bought honor bricks to remember their loved ones."

Almost all the $250,000 needed to construct the memorial has been raised, according to Paul Goodwin, the memorial committee's fundraising chairman. Still, fundraising efforts will continue to help pay ongoing maintenance costs.

"The brick sales will continue because there will always be veterans," Goodwin said. "There will always be room (at the memorial) for more honor bricks."

Construction started last year when workers installed the foundation, paver bricks and a circular pedestal for the two sculptures. Seven flagpoles for the American, POW, and military service flags also were installed.

Goodwin said part of the memorial is devoted to remembering deceased Roselle residents who served in the military. The names of those veterans, some dating to World War I, are inscribed on granite tablets between the flagpoles.

"If you served in the military and you lived in Roselle and you pass away, your name will be engraved on those tablets," said Goodwin, adding there already are more than 240 names listed in alphabetical order.

Next week, a "battle cross" (boots, rifle and helmet) statue and a "kneeling soldier" statue will be mounted on the pedestal.

Smolinski said those sculptures will honor all the veterans who sacrificed their lives in service of our country.

"The battle cross itself is a contemporary honoring of those soldiers who have died in battle," Smolinski said.

Hundreds are expected to attend the dedication ceremony. Police plan to close Irving Park in front of the memorial so there's enough room for the crowd.

Even in its incomplete state, the memorial is drawing attention.

"Nearly every time I go by, people are there looking at the memorial as it stands today," Goodwin said. "It's a respectful place to remember those who have been willing to serve to keep our nation free."

Donations for the memorial can be made online by visiting the American Legion Post 1084 website at post1084.net. Honor bricks and sponsor bricks can be purchased by visiting rosellememorial.donationbricks.com.