Construction began on the Charters of Freedom at the Tribute to Veterans Memorial in Warrenton last month.
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Construction began on the Charters of Freedom at the Tribute to Veterans Memorial in Warrenton last month. The monument will be an addition to the existing memorial. The Charters of Freedom include the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
They are arranged in glass and concrete cases that mirror the display of the documents at the National Archives Museum in Washington D.C.
Members of the Tribute to Veterans board spoke at the April 11 Wright City Board of Aldermen meeting about the installation as well as their unveiling on Memorial Day.
Gary Ruebling extended an invitation to the Memorial Day celebration to Wright City officials as well as any other interested parties.
They are being installed with help from an organization called Foundation Forward based out of Virginia who provides the materials for installation as part of an effort to educate the public on the nation’s founding documents and their importance.
“It’s an educational program,” Ruebling said. “You can bring the kids up there and they can see what they’re like.”
Foundation Forward delivered the plates and cases for the documents. The vast majority of the work is being done by volunteers here in Warren County.
“Foundation Forward provides the installation and construction completely, the only thing we have to provide is landscaping and running electric,” Ruebling said.
The reveal of the completed installation will take place during the annual Memorial Day celebration at the Tribute to Veterans starting at 11 a.m. on May 27.
Warrenton Aldermen Roger Romaker also invited city officials to attend the event at a board meeting at their April 16 meeting.
“I would just like to make everyone aware, the public is invited, encouraged to come, it’s a fantastic organization, they do a lot for the community and it honors our veterans immensely,” Romaker said.
The installation will be the first of its kind in Missouri and the first to be paired with a Tribute to Veterans memorial according to memorial trustee Rick Mantione.
Mantione also said that the ceremony will be marked with a 21 gun salute from seven cannons.
While Foundation Forward did provide materials and helped with the installation of the larger plates and concrete cases, the remaining work is being completed by local volunteers like Susan Allenbeck and Greg Costello.
