Group wants to build memorial wall

Talk about it

Dunn County area veterans may soon have an opportunity to place their names on a proposed memorial wall in Killdeer.

The Veterans Memorial Committee, comprised of nine Dunn County residents, is spearheading the project.

“It’s a project that’s been wanted in the county for a long time and it just never got off the ground,” said Dean Bergstedt, committee member. “We’ve actually had committees in place in previous years that worked on it, took pictures and had meetings but it just never got going.”

Bergstedt said the commander of the American Legion in Killdeer appointed committee members to look into the project. The group has been meeting for six months to come up with a proposal and to begin fundraising.

The proposal is for a black granite memorial wall, about 40 feet wide, and 7 feet high, with names engraved on it.

The estimated cost is about $110,000.

“That’s the target, with an additional $10,000 to $20,000 for a slush fund to buy flags and we want to light it every night,” Bergstedt said.

So far, the committee has raised about $30,000.

While there is a possible design for the wall, some specifics haven’t been hammered out and could change over the fundraising process.

“If we do receive all of our donations, we’re going to go with the nicest wall we can,” said Ron Borth, committee member.

The wall would be located near the proposed site of the High Plains Cultural Center in Killdeer.

Deb Harsche, Dunn County Fair Association executive director, said the memorial would be located on a terrace on the outside of the building.

“It would absolutely be a great addition to the High Plains Cultural Center,” she said.

Bergstedt said the committee welcomes any veteran no matter when they served.

“We want to stress that it’s for any veteran who wore the uniform; National Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force and all time frames, from World War I on,” Bergstedt said.

Bergstedt said the committee plans to receive all of the money it needs before starting the project.

“It’s a wall that is going to affect every family in Dunn County,” Borth said. “It seems like every family has a family member that has served in our U.S. military.”

Anyone who wishes to submit a name or make a donation is asked to contact Bergstedt at 701-764-5215. Donations can be mailed to: Veterans Memorial, P.O. Box 118, Killdeer, N.D. 58640.

See www.thedickinsonpress.com for a complete list of committee members and their contact information.

Tags: killdeer, veterans, memorial, dunn, county