The end is in sight for the Britton Veteran’s Memorial. The committee responsible for the memorial located at the Britton Cemetery is happy to see the project nearing completion and looks forward to a formal dedication of it soon.
The memorial was the brainchild of former Britton Finance Officer Marie Marlow. Marlow was concerned that the many departed soldiers buried in the Britton Cemetery do not have anything to memorialize them at that location. Such a memorial had also been discussed by the city council for years.
Then when Kim Roehr and Shane Storley joined the Cemetery Board, the ball really began rolling in earnest. “We were looking for something to honor our veterans here in town,” said Roehr. “There are other types of smaller memorials in the area, but we wanted something that would be more visible.”
The group started to look at designs and other town’s memorials as they planned their own. They eventually came up with a design. “After we formulated our design, the folks at Scott’s Lumber used their software to draw it up,” explained Marlow.
The design they decided upon features six five-foot statues of soldiers, one representing each branch of the military. Each soldier will be situated on a 24-inch pedestal, and each will be featured with the respective branch’s seal. The statues will be laid out in a half-moon on a cement pad with a low brick retaining wall. Flagpoles would be placed behind the statues.
Work on the project got started last year. As things progressed, the cemetery committee decided on some additions to the memorial like a paved path to the chapel and electricity to keep the area lit throughout the night. The timeline on the project was lengthened but the committee felt it would be worth the wait.
“We made changes that would improve the end result of the memorial,” Roehr noted. “We are really happy with how it’s coming along.”
Now, the project is very close to completion. A stone was placed at the memorial last week and the statues will soon be installed. Some landscaping needs to be finished up. The final goal is to have a dedication for the completed feature on Memorial Day weekend in conjunction with the usual services held at the Britton Cemetery.
As they look into the future, the committee hopes that the memorial becomes a destination for people from the county and those passing through. They can also see additions to the area, including cameras to help ensure the memorial stays safe.
The group is still seeking donations to help wrap up the project. Their goal is to raise an additional $10,000. If people want to donate, they can contact Britton City Hall at 605-448-5721 or mail a check to the city at PO Box 126, Britton SD, 57430. Make sure to note that the donation is for the Memorial.
Check back in the Journal for additional information on the dedication closer to Memorial Day.
Temperature: 24°F Town: Britton, SD
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