November 16, 2024
At 11:11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, John Knox Village, its 150-member Veterans Group and other honored guests dedicated the Village’s new Veterans Memorial, which is adjacent to the well-known Lee’s Summit landmark, The Pavilion, 520 N.W. Murray Road.
The dedication included a ribbon cutting as well as the Presentation of Colors by the Lee’s Summit West High School JROTC. The Village’s Men’s Quartet sung the “National Anthem.” Village President and CEO Dan Rexroth, Missouri State Representative Keri Ingle and Village residents also spoke. The Lee’s Summit American Legion Post 189 fired a gun salute. Village resident Russ Berlin, co-founder and former conductor of the Lee’s Summit Symphony, played “Taps.”
Inspired to Act
One afternoon, a group of John Knox Village residents – including members of the Village’s Veterans Group – were casually discussing their military experiences. One resident recalled her husband’s service and voiced her sadness that his grave was located too far away for her to visit. She wished for a place on the Village campus where she could connect with him.
It was this emotional declaration that inspired the Veterans Group to start exploring ways to build a monument on the Village campus where everyone could have a serene and sacred space to visit, reflect and remember.
In August 2023, the group kicked off their fundraising efforts and less than nine months later, members collected more than $70,000 in donations – raising the funds needed to complete the project.
Building a Memorial
Veterans Group leaders worked closely with John Knox Village staff to design the memorial and choose beautiful construction materials. Construction started in late summer 2024 and completed in October.
The memorial features six marble monuments and a corresponding flagpole that represents a different branch of service. They are in a semi-circle around a flagpole with a U.S. flag. In the center of the semi-circle is a larger marker listing military conflicts. The memorial also has a POW-MIA flag and a state of Missouri flag as well as benches.
In addition to being a place of remembrance, the site will be used for ceremonies on special occasions such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
“Veterans from every branch of the military and who have served during times of peace and conflict, as well as many spouses, have called the Village home,” said Maria Timberlake, vice president of resident life. “We are incredibly our proud of resident veterans and their efforts. This memorial will be a wonderful place to commemorate their service for years to come as well as a great addition to our campus.”
