Veterans Memorial Gets Unanimous Council Approval

The proposed for has cleared its last hurdle for the time being, with Edina City Council unanimously approving the design this week.

Committee members who have worked for more than a year to get the memorial built now shift gears to fund-raising, with an estimated $400,000 needed for the project.

City Council members voted 4-0 in favor of the project on Tuesday, Nov. 15, following a short presentation from Parks and Recreation Director John Keprios and Bob Kost, an architect with Short Elliott Hendrickson.

The approved design is that of a large letter V—for victory—with three concentric stars inside of it. At the head of the site, the committee is suggesting a black granite memorial topped with a bronze statue of an eagle holding a wreath.

The memorial will be etched with the names of 32 Edina veterans killed in action since 1888, when the city was founded. As for the sculpture, that will be handled by New York-based sculptor Robert Eccleston.

"This is so elegant in its simplicity," Council member Mary Brindle said.

Mayor Jim Hovland said he thinks the group will be successful in their fundraising efforts, encouraging them to potentially work together with the Edina Community Foundation. He praised the group for their hard work, saying he was impressed with the proposed design.

"Every time you come here it becomes more possible," Hovland said. "Every time you come here it becomes more humanized."

Brindle and fellow Council member Joni Bennett raised concern about potential light pollution from the memorial, but Kost assured them they will be mindful of that in their final design. 

Keprios said a donation was offered from the Daughters of the American Revolution to cover the flagpole, but it was not accepted as they wanted to erect a plaque next to it with their name.

"They really want to minimize names and recognition with the exception of the 32 that were killed in action and the absolute most significant donors," Keprios said. "That'll all be part of the final design that'll come before you."