ALEXANDRIA VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK

Just past the towering nine flags at the main entrance, visitors can see the nine-foot, 29,000-pound granite statue of the Liberty Bell, a replica of the original bell in Philadelphia. Alongside the bell are six, red granite benches engraved with military seals and Veterans’ names. This memorial honors Veterans, living or dead, starting with the 19th century. Just beyond the bell is a Civil War Veteran Statue dedicated in 1916 that honors Veterans of that era.

On site there are 28 black, granite stones, each weighing almost a ton and rising well over six feet high. The monuments are engraved with more than 7,000 names of Veterans from the Douglas County area. These monument stones were carved from rock derived from the Mesabi Iron Range in northern Minnesota. The range is one of the world’s largest iron ore deposits, formed about two billion years ago.

Additional benches positioned throughout the park have Veteran’s personal war and service stories on the back of each. Around the backside of the park is a 90-foot, half-circle wall of honor with bronze seals and the phrase “Let No Veteran Be Forgotten” boldly displayed. A picnic pavilion and heated restrooms are available for visitor usage.