Saline County Veterans Memorial, (sculpture).

Saline County Veterans Memorial, (sculpture).

Borgman, Kim, sculptor.

Quin Concrete, fabricator.

Fox Monuments, carver.

Saline County Veterans Memorial, (sculpture).

Commissioned March 1989. Dedicated Sept. 15, 1991.

Digital Reference:

Bronze, black granite, and precast concrete.

Eagle: approx. H. 22 in. (300 lbs.).

(Plaque on north wall, incised lettering:) WE ETCH THESE NAMES ON/GRANITE TO STAND AGAINST/TIME ... IN MEMORY OF THOSE/WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE/AND TO ALL/VETERANS OF SALINE COUNTY/WHO SERVED THIS COUNTRY/IN WAR AND PEACE/"... GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN/THIS-THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS/LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS."/(crossed flags) unsigned

A war memorial with three curved, rose-colored concrete walls, each inset with black granite text plaques, surrounding a circular bench with center pole topped by a bronze eagle. The west wall has four plaques, the first two inscribed with World War I names, the second two containing names from World War II. The north wall has a dedication plaque flanked by six plaques, three on each side, each inscribed with the name of a war and a geographical representation above it. On the left side, from top to bottom, are "WORLD WAR I," "KOREA," and "PERSIAN GULF." On the right side, from top to bottom, are "WORLD WAR II," and "VIETNAM," with the bottom plaque blank. The east wall has four plaques with, from left to right, names from World War II on the first two plaques, Korean War on the next plaque, the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War combined on the last. The memorial is set upon a circular plaza, encircled by a lighted walkway with an entrance in front.

History -- United States -- Military history

History -- United States -- World War I

History -- United States -- World War II

History -- United States -- Korean War

History -- United States -- Vietnam War

History -- United States -- Persian Gulf War

Animal -- Bird -- Eagle

Allegory -- Passion -- Love

Outdoor Sculpture -- Missouri -- Marshall

Administered by Saline County, Marshall, Missouri 65340

Located Saline County Courthouse, Southeast corner of courthouse lawn, Marshall, Missouri

The memorial commemorates all soldiers from Saline County,who fought from World War I through the Persian Gulf War. It was erected by the Saline County Veterans Memorial Corporation, led by Gerald Cunningham, a Vietnam War veteran. Commissioned in 1989, the memorial cost $20,000 and was funded through donations, with $1,000 donated from ConAgra, Cunningham's employer. The eagle was made possible by a contribution by the City of Marshall. According to the artist, the circular design is meant to symbolize a mother's arms embracing her child as he is sent into battle. Quinn Concrete constructed the precast concrete panels; and Fox Monuments engraved the black granite plaques. Controversy arose when the Saline County Commission wanted the memorial placed on the north side of the courthouse square, but after two years, the Saline County Veterans Memorial prevailed in having it located on the southeast corner. Of the names engraved, there are 139 listed for World War I, 123 for World War II, 5 for the Korean War, 18 for the Vietnam War, and 1 for the Persian Gulf War.

IAS files contain detailed dimensions, and a partial transcription of names from World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Persian Gulf War plaques on the east wall. IAS files contain the following related articles from The Democrat-News (Marshall, MO): Sept. 3, 1991, pg. 1; Sept. 13, 1991, pg. 3B, IIB; Sept. 16, 1991, pg. 1, 12.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Missouri survey, 1994.

The Democrat-News (Marshall, MO), Sept. 16, 1991, pg. 1.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

Control Number:

Horizon Information Portal 3.0

Powered by SirsiDynix

About | © 2020 Smithsonian | Terms of Use | Privacy | Contact

SIRIS - Smithsonian Institution Research Information System