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During the June 2 Pipestone City Council meeting, the council approved a site location proposal brought forward by the Veterans Memorial Committee. With this approval to locate the memorial on city-owned property, city attorney Jason Hill can now draft an ordinance to establish the Veterans Memorial.
The general site for the memorial had previously been identified as a location within Moore Park on North Hiawatha Ave. The map presented by the committee more specifically locates the memorial, just north of the old schoolhouse with sidewalk access from the street and the center of the memorial 100 feet to the west.
In speaking for the committee, Myron Koets highlighted that this location in Moore Park will be more favorable to the City regarding electrical access and costs than if the memorial was moved further north. If moved further north of the proposed site, the location would become part of Hiawatha Pageant Park where there is not year-round electrical service currently available.
Koets also highlighted that the proposed site near the historic schoolhouse could dovetail nicely into the history of Pipestone. The memorial can provide educational experiences when the County Museum conducts programs for children at the schoolhouse during the summer months and a sundial is planned to be incorporated that could also be fun and educational.
By moving the site 100 feet back from the street, the location could allow for special community programs or services to be hosted. “If we wanted to have a Memorial Day service there, or maybe a Veteran’s Day service, or anything like that, there would be room for people to bring their lawn chairs and sit there. We chose also that location because there’s restrooms at Moore Park,” said Koets.
If all goes to plan with final approval of the location ordinance, Koets reported that the committee intends to pour the concrete yet this summer and to also locate military branch statues on the site. These statues were previously located at the Pipestone American Legion. The stones for the memorial have been purchased, but the entire site will take some time to complete as the committee is still raising funds for the project.