By Sara QuamLuverne will finally have what many have said is missing — a veterans memorial. A father and son pair have spearheaded the project. Warren Herreid, a decorated veteran who’s been active in the community, noted that a memorial would be appropriate for veterans of all branches of service from Rock County. His son, Warren Herreid II, and his wife, Jeannine Rivet, have committed themselves financially to getting the monument in Luverne.Rock County Commissioners have already given tentative approval for a memorial on the courthouse lawn near the cannon. Herreid II found a bench with a life-size bronze soldier statue that he hopes the county will decide is appropriate as a memorial. Another part of the memorial includes listing names of Rock County veterans.Herreid II and his wife also started a foundation, K.A.H.R., which will collect money for maintenance and care, and things such as flowers, to add to and retain the beauty of the memorial. Details on how to donate to that foundation will be released later.Herreid II spoke at a Tuesday program in the Minnesota Veterans Home, Luverne, as a part of the Memorial Day celebration. He recalled a childhood in Luverne. "Almost all of my parent’s friends had some connection to the military, mainly the National Guard: Dale Earl, Marty Kvaas, George Carsrud, Carl Heiden, Dale Opsata, Ted Anderson, Arvid Erickson, to name a few," Herreid II said."I grew up hearing stories about HHC and H Company, 205th Infantry, and how times were tough and everyone wanted to join the National Guard."National Guard members earned $1 per drill then, and children as young as 14 would lie about their age to enlist.Herreid II said, "At one time the Army had to declare amnesty to allow everyone to put their correct ages in the official records."Herreid II remembers his dad being activated for the Korean War in 1951 and how he waved to his dad as he left a train for Camp Rucker, Ala., where the family later joined him.Herreid II remembers Memorial Day being close to the end of school, when the public pool opened, the roller rink tent was set up and opened, the popcorn and peanut wagon was next to the Luverne Style Shop, and that he would play Army wearing old helmet liners and soft caps that fathers brought home from the war.Some of Herreid II’s friends back then were Dave and Mike Smith, his cousins Gary and Charlie Herreid and Alex Frick.He remembers the week of Memorial Day being similar to what it is today: veterans sold crepe paper or cardboard poppies to honor the veterans who had died during the wars."It was important to have one of each poppy and to pay for it ourselves out of our allowance," Herreid II said.He hopes people learn the history and purpose of Memorial Day, and not treat it just like another long weekend. Herreid II said, "At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen have been increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are still towns that hold Memorial Day parades and ceremonies, many have not done so in decades. Some think the day is for honoring any and all dead, not just those who have fallen in service to our country."Herreid II said he has plenty of hope for the future veterans."Two weeks ago," he said, "I had the pleasure of attending two ceremonies at Fort Benning, Ga. I am very pleased to tell you that our country’s new soldiers are the best trained, most highly motivated, smartest, most physically fit and patriotic young people I have ever seen. They are there because they want to be and there to be the best that they can be. And I am here to tell you they are good."Other people who contributed to the program include Gaylord Keck, Chaplain David Jahn, the Honor Guard, Ray Lens, Pam Barrows, Colby Anderson and Dan Nelson.Hardwick effort Along with Luverne’s memorial, other area towns have notable monuments to veterans. Ron Hansen is one veteran who is starting an effort to get a memorial in Hardwick. He said Magnolia, Jasper and Edgerton have done nice memorials and he hopes Hardwick can have one of its own. People interested in having their name on the memorial in Hardwick are asked to donate $50, but no one will be refused. Wes Pierson, Lowell Ahrendt, Bob Heitman, and Hansen are accepting the donations. The Hardwick Legion is meeting at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, to decide where the memorial should be placed.