Montgomery is moving forward with two memorials – one for veterans and the other for first responders and essential workers – planned for Montgomery Park at 301 N. River St. in the village.
Greg Sagen of Signature Design Group in Naperville came up with the designs for the memorials and has already secured an American vendor – Peter Troost Co. from Hillside – that has the granite on hand.
The total cost for both monuments is set at $134,275. The Montgomery Village Board this week approved having Peter Troost Co. do the fabrication, delivery and crane placement of the two monuments.
Montgomery Village President Matt Brolley said the memorials are ideal for the park, to salute the village’s veterans and also honor its first responders and essential workers.
The veterans memorial is planned to be some 9 feet in height and 4 feet wide. The first responders and essential workers memorial is planned as a two-stone structure. The first stone is 5 feet by 7 feet, and a second interlocking stone will be 16 inches tall and 7 feet in length.
Sagen said the material for the monuments polishes well and will be quite a tribute to those being honored.
Sagen said if the village places its order by Dec. 15, the memorials could be installed by Aug. 1, just in time for the village’s Montgomery Fest next year.
Kristina Nemetz, communications manager with the village, said the monument design process has been a long one and was a collaborative process of many groups.
The village held focus groups and one-on-one interviews with several stakeholder groups, including veterans representing several military branches, first responders and other essential workers. Together these individuals contributed to the words and images to be depicted on the monuments that will go in Montgomery Park.
“These monuments contain the words, emotions and feelings expressed by veterans and essential workers that live and work in our community,” Nemetz said. “Meeting so many of the people who make the village fantastic was a pleasure. We look forward to honoring them and the many people who demonstrate ‘service above self’ daily in their jobs to keep our families, community and nation safe.”
Judy Pochel is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
