Indiana county could boost military monument's restoration

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - A southern Indiana county could soon be kicking in some money toward restoring a 35-foot-tall limestone military memorial on the courthouse grounds.

The memorial built in 1928 outside the Monroe County Courthouse in downtown Bloomington has become badly pitted and worn away.

County veterans' service officer Mary Elftman tells The Herald-Times that fundraising has stalled, with about $10,000 donated toward the estimated $208,000 restoration project. Elftman says it is fabulous that the county commissioners plan including the restoration in a $5 million bond issue for several projects.

The monument is named for Civil War Capt. William M. Alexander of Bloomington but has an inscription that reads "To the soldiers of all wars." It has four panels commemorating the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I and the Mexican War.

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Information from: The Herald Times, http://www.heraldtimesonline.com