Welcome To The Savanna Veterans Memorial Website!
The Savanna Veterans Memorial was Officially Dedicated on Memorial Day 2021
Current News is on this Home page, to see more photos and stories about them, click on the Photos Menu selection above.
AFTER THREE YEARS OF TAKING DONATIONS FOR PAVERS ON DECEMBER 27, 2019 WE HAVE FILLED THE 704 SPACES.
Going forward we have new Bronze Plated Plaques available for those that missed the Pavers. Go to our Donations Page to see the new Alternative we have now.
The Savanna Veterans Memorial Committee was formed by a group of local citizens with members from the American Legion Post 148 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2223 and prominent citizens. The project started in May of 2016.
The Memorial was completed in 2021.
WCCI Radio Station Interview
WCCI Radio Interview with Paul Mayer and Todd Swanson before the Official Dedication of the Savanna Veterans Memorial held on Memorial Day 2021. To listen to that interview, please click here.
Donations are being accepted and may be mailed to Savanna Veterans Memorial Committee, PO Box 72, Savanna, IL 61074-0072. The group is a not-for-profit organization and donations are tax deductible.
WCCI Radio Station Interview
On August 24, 2017, Radio Station WCCI interviewed Todd Swanson and Paul Mayer about the Savanna Veterans Memorial. To listen to that interview, please click here.
The following article was printed in the Savanna Times Journal on June 1, 2017:
The Savanna Veterans Monument Committee has been formed by a group of local citizens.
Committee members have been meeting monthly since May 2016 to come up with a design and a suitable location for a veterans’ monument that will honor all military branches — Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines.
The group has been brainstorming ideas for the monument and has set a goal to raise $100,000. Their aim is to have the monument completed and a formal dedication in 2019.
One of the main fundraisers will be from the purchase of memory bricks with a veteran’s name and information engraved on it. The cost is a donation of $175.00 per paver brick which is tax deductable and will help build the memorial.
“We want to honor our community of veterans, past and present,” said Todd Swanson, project chairman.
In addition to Swanson, other committee members include Paul Mayer, Jeff Doran, Bryan McCaskey, Warren ‘Doc’ Vincent, Mike Raleigh, Kris Yingling, Jean Ferris and Ron Miller. Former Savanna mayor Larry Stebbins is the committee trustee.
“A location is still in the works,” said Swanson. “We are talking to the City of Savanna and the State of Illinois for a suitable high traffic location. We’d love to see it along the Mississippi River.”
The name of the planned monument is Patriots Point. The design will be three panels with a mission statement engraved and emblems of all branches of service authorized by the U.S. Congress in chronological order.
Three flags will adorn the monument — American, POW/MIA, and State of Illinois.
“We’d also like to erect a 100-foot flag pole and fly a garrison flag (15-foot by 25-foot) so that it can be seen for miles and be a landmark,” added Swanson.
Space for benches has been allowed in the final design.
“We are backed 100 percent by Mayor Chris Lain, Savanna City Council, State Rep. Tony McCombie and all service organizations in Savanna,” said committee member Paul Mayer.
Donations are being accepted and may be mailed to Savanna Veterans Monument Committee, P.O. Box 72, Savanna, Ill., 60174. The group is a not-for-profit organization and donations are tax deductible.
For more information contact, call Swanson at 815-273-3395 or Mayer at 815-273-3077.
The Savanna Veterans Monument Committee has set a goal of $200,000 for a monument honoring veterans from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines. It is hoped to have the monument erected in 2019.