It’s been three years since a small group of residents who call Spearfish home shared their vision of raising enough money to construct a living monument to honor veterans for their sacrifice.
Several members of the Spearfish VFW Post 5860 and the American Legion Post 164 have organized a variety of fundraisers, and to date they have raised $81,000 toward their $250,000 goal to construct the Spearfish Veterans Monument.
On Monday, some of the more key players in the steering committee witnessed their hard work come to fruition with a groundbreaking held at Indian Springs Park.
“This feels wonderful,” said Dick Rutherford, who assisted with the construction and engineering design for the monument. “We’ve had a lot of factors that have come together to make this possible, including everyone who has donated to the monument or assisted us in any other way to make this possible.”
The living memorial to recognize services members who are both alive, and passed on, will be made out of granite. It will include a pedestal in the center of the monument that will serve as a flagpole, several benches, and lighting will be installed. Once all of this is complete, the five granite walls will be installed and the names of those veterans have been submitted as of that time will be carved into the stone.
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