Building the Waldorf Veterans Memorial Garden
Our first project built for the Waldorf Veterans Memorial Park is the ‘Veterans Memorial Garden’. Development for this WVMP project began in early June of 2024.
$7000 of donated funds in the WVMP bank account helped get us started. A $5000 grant awarded to us by the Waseca Area Foundation, plus other additional donations, allowed us to complete this project by the end of November.
The ‘Veterans Memorial Garden’ resides at the front-right side of the WVMP by the entry area on Main Street in Waldorf. The garden is an oval area of approximately 24-feet X 15-feet. The memorial garden consists of the following:
- Three flag poles with the center pole being taller than the other two.
- LED lighting displays our flags appropriately at night.
- The garden is predominantly rock.
- Galvanized containers are placed within the rocks for gardening plants.
- A dedication boulder will display a ‘Plaque of Honor’ for our Veterans.
Waldorf Flee Market
Project 01
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Project 02
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Project 03
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Project 03
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Project 03
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Three Flag Poles
Our project uses a commercial one-piece, fiberglass, ground-set, internal halyard, cone tapered flagpole finished in black. Each pole features a gold anodized aluminum ball ornament, and beaded retainer rings.
The center pole is 30-feet tall with the other two poles being somewhat shorter at 25-feet tall. Each pole is spaced within the memorial garden for proper display.
With research, considering quality and cost, our flagpoles were purchased from Harold Flags and Flagpoles located in Rochester, MN. Costs for shipping of our flagpoles to the WVMP location was donated.
- Zues Mfg. – 30’/33′ x 5 in. base x 3 in. crown x .125 in. thick fiberglass pole.
- Zues Mfg. – 25’/27′ x 5 in. base x 3 in. crown x .125 in. thick fiberglass pole.
Flag foundations were installed by Craig Joecks of C.J. Masonry. Putting the flagpoles into place was done with help by Ron Fischer and Todd Levine. Charlie Meyer also donated his time by placing the last pole with his Boom-Truck, and trimming a nearby tree to accommodate them.
Etiquette: When three flagpoles are the same height, the priority is left to right. When the center pole is taller, then the position of prominence is on the center pole, then left, then the right.
Our center flagpole features a 5 x 8-foot (heavy duty) American Flag donated to our project by Harold Flags and Flagpoles. The other two flagpoles feature a (traditional) Minnesota State flag to the left and a POW flag to honor our Veterans on the right. Each flag one size smaller than the American flag.
Flag Lighting
“It is a universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24-hours a day if properly illuminated during hours of darkness.” ~The U.S. Flag Code
With donated help from Roger Witts of Witts Electrical our American flag is being displayed during the night; each flag illuminated.
120V electrical power is provided from a dedicated power-station on the WVMP site. Two cables run to the memorial garden site terminating at an electrical gang-box located near the garden. One cable, (15 Amp, AWG size 12) provides power for lighting our flags. The other cable, (20 Amp, AWG size 12) may be used as a back-up, or reserve power for something else in the future.
Lighting fixtures provide LED bulbs powerful enough to illuminate our flags clearly at night. Fixtures are weatherproof, with light sensors that operate automatically dusk-till-dawn.
These fixture(s) were purchased from Amazon.com:
- EDISHINE 22W Flag Pole Light with Light Sensor
- 20° Focused Outdoor Narrow Beam LED Weatherproof Spotlight
- 2832LM 3000K Flood Light, 120V
- UL Listed
Flower Gardens
The Veteran Memorial Garden is mounded gently toward the middle overall. A dump truck load of local black dirt was donated to our project by Tom Phillips and Perry Mortensen.
Four circular planting areas are placed within the garden’s rocks. These planting areas are protected from the rocks using galvanized steel edging purchased from Amazon.com.
Our ‘Waldorf Peddle Pushers’ Garden Club has offered to help manage planting, watering, and weeding of these gardens with colorful flowers during the summer months. Funding for annual planting of these gardens may be provided with donations from the WVMP fund.
Rocks and Boulders
Our memorial garden area was levelled and rocks placed by Ditch Creek Landscaping.
The over-all Veterans Memorial Garden is generally covered by rock. River-Rock was brought-in and used as a base/filler between boulders and planting areas. Granit edging is provided around the memorial garden perimeter for maintenance and lawn mowing consideration. Other medium to large rocks/boulders may be added from local farm rock piles in the future.
The Veterans Memorial Garden is also lined with landscaping plastic to prevent the spread of weeds within the rocks.
Dedication
Our ‘Dedication Boulder’ is a gift to the WVMP from Ditch Creek Landscaping.
The dedication boulder is a large ‘distinguished’ boulder with a flattened surface that will accommodate the display of a 18”x 24” aluminum plaque featuring a statement to our veterans. This dedication is placed in the front-center of our Veterans Memorial Garden visible to patrons who may stop and read our dedication, and appreciate the purpose for our Waldorf Veterans Memorial Park.
The dedication plaque is a gift to WVMP from the Thomas L. Madden, American Legion Post #587. Legion members of Post #587 chose a statement for our Veterans Dedication spoken by CW4 Jeremiah Miller in 2024. CW4 Miller is a (local) Waseca resident and an active advocate for our veterans today. This dedication will be mounted for our Veterans next Memorial Day
A great deal of THANKS must be given for those who donated their time, money, and effort to help make the Waldorf Veterans Memorial Garden possible.