Local monument to honor fallen soldiers is inching closer to its fundraising goal
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Deanne Coffin, KPVI
POCATELLO – A monument to honor fallen soldiers and their families is inching closer to its fundraising goal.
City officials say $700,000 has already been donated to the new ‘Gold Star’ monument, but they still need more to make it happen in time to break ground by the end of April.
The ‘Gold Star’ monument is a memorial monument that honors the fallen and the families who have lost a loved one in service to the nation.
The first ‘Gold Star’ monument in Idaho will be placed on a half-acre park in the Northgate area of Pocatello with walking trails tied into it.
‘I’m hoping that this monument will bring healing to these ‘Gold Star’ families,” says Rebecca Webb, Chair of the Idaho Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Committee.
Webb’s son was killed while serving in the military nearly two years ago. It’s because of people like her son that she wants to see the monument get built.
“My son is a hero. He will always be my hero. I think it’s important as a community, as a state and as a nation that we do not forget the price paid for our freedoms and that we never forget those who have sacrificed and have given their lives so that we can be free,” says Webb.
The monument will be seven feet tall and 13 feet wide with a curvature of about five feet.
It will be made out of black granite with a cut out of a soldier saluting surrounded by 44 stars representing each county in the State of Idaho and a feather for each one of Idaho’s nationally recognized Native American Tribes.
Officials say the cost of the project is over a million dollars and they still need to raise another $300,000.
“This great park that we’re going to have, it’s just going to be an incredible park that you’ll be able to go and sit and contemplate and quite frankly really truly show respect and honor those that have fallen, those that are serving even today,” says Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad.
They hope to break ground on the monument by the end of April.
Pocatello is one of 54 monuments across the country that are already in progress. There are currently 47 dedicated monuments in 41 states.
If you would like to donate or want more information about the ‘Gold Star’ monument, click here.
This story was first published by KPVI. It is used here with permission.