June 28, 2014, Saturday - Grand Opening of the Sheridan Veterans Memorial

Time:  10:00am

Location:  1300 Water Street (between Grain Belt Brewery and the Mississippi, just north of the Broadway Avenue bridge). 

More information regarding Sheridan Memorial Park may be found on the project page.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and Park Board Commissioner Liz Wielinski will celebrate the grand opening of the Sheridan Veterans Memorial at Sheridan Memorial Park on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. The public is invited to attend. (See official invitation) 

Citizens of northeast Minneapolis, including many veterans, have worked tirelessly to make this memorial along the Mississippi River a reality. “The Veterans Memorial is in honor of all veterans. It is a thank you to those who stepped forward to serve, a tribute to those whose lives were lost or forever altered, and a living reminder of our hope for a world with lasting peace.” said State Representative, Diane Loeffler. Representative Loeffler was responsible for shepherding the project through the legislature for the state funding that was needed to plan and construct the project.

Commissioner Wielinski added, “We especially want to thank the following individuals and groups for their support of this project: the citizens of Minnesota, the Puzak Family (who donated some of the land for the park), Jenny Fortman and the Sheridan Neighborhood Organization, and all of the many veterans who helped create the vision for this space, most especially veterans Ed Karbo who led the initial charge, and Howard Weller who followed it through to the final stages.”

Back in 1995, a group of veterans led by Karbo began looking for a site to commemorate war veterans. They joined forces with the Sheridan Neighborhood Organization (SNO) in 2005 to site the memorial in what was formerly Water Street Park—now renamed Sheridan Memorial Park. SNO and the veterans have raised thousands of dollars in contributions.

The veterans memorial is located at the south end of the Sheridan Memorial Park. Visitors walk past three flags as they enter the site.   At the center of the memorial is a 30 foot diameter steel sculpture which is lit from within. The sculpture is surrounded by a circular plaza defined by low walls and slanted panels of lawn. A perimeter walk opens to ten sitting alcoves with benches and vertical markers, each bearing a description of one of the ten conflicts in which Minnesotans have served. The memorial opens out to an overlook cantilevered over the river bank. In this plaza stands an eleventh “empty” marker representing the ever potential threat of war, reminding us to strive for peace. The edge of the memorial is defined by peace gardens and a ring of oak trees.

The sculpture and eleven markers were created by local artist Robert Smart.

The community strongly advocated for a peace emphasis in the design. The circle, a form used repeatedly throughout the memorial, is a protective symbol representing unity, wholeness, and regeneration. The text of the markers catalogs the cost of war. Nine quotes about peace inscribed in granite pavers are a counterpoint to the descriptions of the conflicts.

Construction of the memorial occurred in 2013. The memorial was dedicated on Veteran’s Day November 11, 2013. The central sculpture was installed in late spring of 2014. All are welcome to join in the Grand Opening celebration.