2004 Year in Review

Bosma presents vision for Veteran's monuments

Jim Bosma's vision for the memorials stones at the Veteran's Park. One center stone with four on either side.

A Barre Grey granite bench for the new Veteran's Park is one of the items Jim Bosma showed the Historic Preservation Commission.

To complete the Veteran’s Memorial Park, the Morrison Historical Preservation Commission invited Jim Bosma of Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home to their monthly meeting to give a presentation on memorial stones to be placed along the existing wall.

Bosma gave the members a virtual photograph of his vision for nine black granite stones no taller than 48” from Midwest Monument Co. The center stone would have a slanted top with an etching of the Park’s layout. The front would have the Parks name, dedication date, and also room for donator names. The stone would line up with the American flagpole.

Each of the other eight granite stones, spaced 4 feet apart from the center monument would have a ribbon etched down the side with the name of a major war along with space for a list of 102 veterans of that war etched at a height of ¾” into the remainder surface. One stone could be dedicated to “Other Wars” with dates and more veterans’ names etched on the surface. The stones would taper 1” each toward the outside of the wall making the outside stones shorter than the center.

Bosma gave his recommendation for American quarried Ebony Mist granite (black with white marbling) and his preferred method of etching. With a demonstration, he showed the group how the names disappeared in the rain with normal etching but with his preferred method, could still be read. Bosma volunteered to pay for all the lettering.

He also recommended bricking the area around the monuments to keep grass clipping from being blown on them, to make maintenance easier, and for easier access.

Another short presentation was given on marble benches. Two colors of granite, the Ebony Mist (used in the monuments) and Barre Grey (a white with black marbling), were presented. Bosma recommended a simple styled bench because increases cost goes with every cut made.

The Commission knows of several existing memorials and Bosma recommended placing them along the sidewalks of the Park. He also recommended placing the VFW on a stone similar to the one it originally was placed upon. Names on the existing memorials would be reproduced on the new stones.

Richard Groharing and Don Mulnix, from the Commission, have been researching names for the last few months. They expect over 800 names to be engraved on the stones.

In other business Groharing showed the Commission a drawing from Joel Cook from J.C. and Associates, Sterling, with the placement and a list of all the trees and shrubs for the Park. Groharing had Spangler’s Landscaping price the items for installation. He also showed samples of donator plaques to be placed by each item. A tree has already been donated.

Donations will be needed to complete this project. If you are interested in donating to the Veteran’s Memorial Park contact the City of Morrison office at 772-7657.

by Barb Benson, theCity1.com
February 5, 2004