War memorial installed along Jeffersonville riverfront

Clark County

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Workers set the new Jeffersonville War Memorial Friday morning on Riverside Drive. The 10 ton monument pays tribute to those who served in the U.S. military during Operation Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and the War in Afghanistan. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
The base of the Jeffersonville War Memorial is lowered into place Friday morning. The memorial is located at the intersection of West Riverside Dr. and Clark St. The Jeffersonville Veterans Day service will be held at the new memorial site. Staff photo by C.E. Branham

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October 27, 2012

War memorial installed along Jeffersonville riverfront

Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan honored

By BRADEN LAMMERS braden.lammers@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Sat Oct 27, 2012, 04:21 AM EDT

JEFFERSONVILLE — More than 20,000 pounds worth of granite and marble were set along Riverside Drive in Jeffersonville on Friday morning, the culmination of three years worth of work.

A war memorial to honor veterans of Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom — the war in Afghanistan — was installed along Riverside Drive and Clark Street.

Sitting between two flag poles along the banks of the Ohio River is a triangular granite base engraved with the words honor, duty and country. A black marble triangle and sphere that list the names of the conflict on each side sit atop the base.

The memorial was the idea of Chad Armstrong, a Vietnam veteran and former Army sergeant, who has been working to get the memorial in place for several years.

“It’s a nice completion after three years of work,” he said. “[But] it’s not for me,” he added.

Armstrong said he raised about $11,000 in private funds and through assistance with the city — which contributed about 50 percent of the cost for the memorial through funding and in-kind contributions — to purchase the memorial and to get it installed.

He said the purpose was to honor the veterans of the more recent American conflicts.

“I came from a different generation,” Armstrong said. “There was nothing like this when I came home. I think it’s nice they’re going to be remembered and I think their families will appreciate it.”

Jeffersonville Fire Chief Eric Hedrick, a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, agreed.

“I think it’s great to have it in Jeffersonville,” he said. “It’s very much appreciated. It’s another nice addition to the riverfront.”

A dedication of the memorial is planned for 2 p.m. Veterans Day, Nov. 11.