11/6/2009 8:20:02 AM

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By Laura Horihan

Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN 

STEWARTVILLE -- Ivan Stringer American Legion Post No. 164 members carefully lowered a heavy bronze statue onto its platform Wednesday as the brisk wind rippled the line of military flags behind them.

	What happened? Members of the Stewartville American Legion erected a bronze statue at the Stewartville Veteran's Memorial on Wednesday afternoon. Why does it matter? Community donations, scrap metal drives, can drives and several fundraiser breakfasts and dinners helped pay for the $200,000 memorial. What happens next? The memorial will be unveiled during a ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday in front of the Ivan Stringer American Legion Post No. 164, 1100 Second Street N.W.

The statue depicting a soldier holding one of his fallen comrades is the focal point of the Stewartville Veteran's Memorial, a three-year-old project that will be unveiled Saturday.

"It's been an ongoing process and it's still not complete," legion commander Richard Paulson said. Artillery pieces and landscaping eventually will be added.

Using a boom truck, Legion members Wes Alrick, Denny Voll, Amy Rayman, Richard Paulson, Jane Terleski, Roger Peterson and Don Lyman hoisted the statue onto a platform in the center of the memorial, which is in front of the Legion hall.

The words "We honor the memory of those who gave their all" and "To the men and women who answered the call" flank each side of the memorial.

Jeff Anderson of Stewartville designed the memorial, but the statue was created by sculptor Paul Rieffer of St. Paul, who has a studio near Alden, Minn.

"It's an honor to do a memorial like this," Rieffer said while watching the men move the sculpture. "They can be proud of what they've done here.

Rieffer has created other sculptures for veteran's memorials, as well as a sculpture of Meredith Willson in the Music Man Square in Mason City, Iowa.

Rieffer worked on this sculpture, called "G.I. Brothers," on and off for about two years.

Donations, scrap metal drives, can drives and several fundraiser breakfasts and dinners helped pay for the $200,000 memorial, Paulson said.

Families can purchase pavers to honor relatives who served in the military.

Organizers have sold 250 pavers and there's room for about 600 total.

Congressman Tim Walz, state Legion Commander Al Davis, district Commander Wayne Hammon Jr. and Stewartville Mayor Jimmie-John King plan to attend the unveiling, Paulson said.

The memorial includes the names of 36 Stewartville veterans who have died while serving their country.

"It will be an important day for everyone who has worked hard to get to this point," Paulson said.

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