Grafton kicks off $6 million Military Memorial Project Oct. 11

By Editor | October 4, 2023 |

Planning for a major military memorial complex is moving forward in Grafton with the formal unveiling of the project during a Capital Campaign kick-off 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the Grafton Visitor Center, 950 E. Main St.

The National Memorial of Military Ascent complex will be built at the city’s Visitor Center and will include a military memorial plaza featuring black obelisks representing all branches of military service, an interactive military museum and life-sized bronze statues of Army Rangers climbing the bluffs in a re-enactment of the Point du Hoc, France military campaign during World War II.

Watercolor paintings of the future memorial and project boards will be unveiled during the formal ceremony by representatives of the project including Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow, representatives of the National Memorial of Military Ascent organization – Don Chamberlin, Treasurer; Brittney Weber, Secretary; Ben Goetten, Jersey County State’s Attorney; Dr. Jennifer Capler, Navy Veteran; Dan Bechtold, Vietnam War Veteran and Grafton businessman; and Tom Woelfel, retired Jerseyville Police Chief. Also on hand will be Jamie Henderson of Henderson & Associates Architects who is designing the project; Veteran’s Memorial Commissioners Cory Jobe, President/CEO of the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau; Colin Wellenkamp, Executive Director of the Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative and John Simmons, Alton attorney and developer.

“This memorial is designed for everyone,” noted Morrow. “It will be a place of quiet reflection and a place of education. We are doing this so we never forget what our men and women in the military have done for our nation.”

Morrow, a military veteran himself, has passionately spearheaded the project. The Grafton City Council, under his leadership, voted unanimously in December 2022 to look for ways to honor veterans in the city and region.

“Over 17 percent of Grafton’s population are military veterans. That’s the largest number per capita in Illinois,” Morrow pointed out.

The Capital Campaign plans to raise $6 million and Morrow anticipates the project will take four years to complete. The campaign has been seeded with a $75,000 to date. A website for campaign donations is expected to be live by Oct. 11, Morrow said.

In addition to fundraising, Morrow noted that area professionals have donated their time and talents to the project. Mike Jones, an engineer with Tarlton Corporation, St. Louis, has volunteered his personal time to be the professional engineer on the project. SMS Engineers of Alton have donated Lidar and Topographical site surveys of the property.

“This is really the only project of its size and scope in the world,” Morrow said. “It will be a draw for Grafton, the region, the nation and internationally.”