Ground broken for veterans memorial WATCH THE VIDEO

Members of VFW Post 9094 and the Highland County Board of Commissioners broke ground Monday for the new veterans memorial on the lawn of the Highland County Courthouse. 

Commissioner Tom Horst welcomed the crowd of people to the groundbreaking, located on the southwest corner of the property. when completed, the memorial will face East Main Street.

"What we're going to be doing on this corner is making the veterans memorial more visible to the public," Horst said. "(The current) veterans monument is getting moved down to this corner, and there are two wings being added to it."

The current site of where the monument will stand, which is a slight incline, will be leveled off to be even with the sidewalk, according to Horst. A red brick walkway will surround the monument. 

Bricks can be purchased for in honor of any veteran for $50. 

"They do not have to be from Highland County," Horst said. "They can be any veteran, living or dead, serving now or not."

Mac McCray is in charge of the project at the VFW, and the Post can be reached by calling (937)  393-0211.

Horst led the group in a prayer, saying, "This hallowed ground will stand forever in the honor of the servicemen and women that served from Highland County and around the globe. 

Following the ceremony, members of the Post and the Commissioners signed the shovels that were used to break ground. 

Horst said that final plans from the project engineer are still pending, and once they are completed constructed on the monument can begin.