Plans for a veterans plaza in Holts Summit are moving forward. The plaza will include a wall of veterans' names and flags representing military branches, and will be located on Justice Drive behind Holts Summit's city hall.
The project's committee is awaiting a new design sketch after the committee decided to make a couple changes to the first draft of the tribute's design.
Holts Summit Alderman Landon Oxley, who has been leading the project and formed the committee, said the group will get pricing information after the new design sketch comes in. Once it has estimated costs for the veterans plaza, the next step will be fundraising.
Once complete, Oxley said the veterans plaza will act as a giant tribute to veterans. He first suggested the project because he thinks it's important to honor those who serve.
"This is a way of me paying tribute to the veterans who have served our country," Oxley said.
He said the wall will honor all of the wars - back to the Civil War. It will also honor each branch of the military.
"We are wanting it to be like a living monument," Oxley said. "Like for people like myself - I'm a veteran and I'm still alive."
Oxley said he comes from a military family. He served from 1987-94 in the Missouri Army National Guard as an infantry medic and sergeant. He added that three other members of the project's committee are also veterans.
The city and committee have been working on the veterans plaza for about a year and a half. Phase one of the project will be installing the wall, which will include veterans' names. Oxley said anyone - not just Callaway County residents - can donate to add their name on the wall.
A Bible quote will also be engraved on black granite in the middle of the wall filled with veterans' names. The Bible quote - Isaiah 6:8 - will read, "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying "whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, "here am I! Send me."
The second phase of the project will be placing flags that represent branches of the military on tall flag poles - visible from the highway - around the wall.
Oxley said highway visibility is important for the project. Drivers going down Highway 54 will be able to spot the flags and wall from the highway.
"I want people to see it," he said.
Benches will be located across from the wall as well.
The committee reviewed a draft design sketch for the project toward the end of 2014, which was created by someone at an architecture firm in Jefferson City who volunteered their time to do so. The committee requested modifications that include adding a ramp from the tribute to the parking lot near city hall.
The city of Holts Summit is donating the land for the tribute to veterans. The city will also work to maintain the land once the tribute is installed. The committee will need to fundraise the rest of the money needed to complete the project. Oxley said the committee plans to approach businesses and individuals in the area about donating. He added that donations can be sent to: Friends of Holts Summit, 213 S. Summit Drive, Holts Summit, Mo 65043.
He said he is hoping the project will be completed within the next couple years.
"I think once things start rolling, it will happen really quick," Oxley said.
After the project is complete, Oxley said the wall will "continue to grow" and veterans will be able to add their names.