The granite work will be done by Whitney and the center medallion will be done by Creative Edge.

Richard Wallarab, one of the organizers, said if anyone steps forward to donate the entire cost of one of the slabs or the medallion, their contri­bution will be acknowledged on the back of the monument. The cost of the large center slab is $5,000. The cost of the smaller slabs is $4,000 each. The cost of the medallion is $15,000.

Organizers hope to be able to build the monu­ment next summer, and to formally dedicate it on Veterans Day 2005.

Tax deductible donations can be sent to Jefferson County Veterans Monument, c/o VFW Post No. 2271, PO Box 1903, Fairfield 52556. They also can be deposited directly into an account at Iowa State Bank.■

Organizers of the effort to construct a veterans' monument on the southwest corner of the Jefferson County Courthouse lawn have begun their fund raising efforts, with the goal of building the monument next summer and dedicating it on Veterans Day 2005.

The members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. No. 2271 are currently focusing much of their energy on efforts to support the 224th Engineer Battalion of the Iowa Army National Guard, which will be leaving later this month for active duty.

But in addition to the "support our troops" ribbon car magnets to raise money for the 224th, the VFW is selling POW/MIA car magnets for $5, with proceeds going to benefit the veterans' monument.

The monument's total cost is estimated at $50,000.

Design work is being done by Kent Whitney of Whitney Monument Works and Harri Aalto of Creative Edge. The monument will consist of seven upright granite slabs, arranged in a 23-foot arc.

The center slab will be the tallest, at about 6 1/2 feet, and will be engraved with the words: "Dedicated to the veterans of Jefferson County, in honor of those who served, in tribute to those who perished, in gratitude to those now serving in war and in peace."

The other slabs will be engraved with the emblems of each of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces -- Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard -- and with the symbol for prisoners of war and people missing in action. The emblems will be set in stainless steel circles.

The slabs will be made of a type of granite called Dakota mahogany, which Whitney said will complement the courthouse.

In front of the center slab will be a medallion with different colors of granite, set in a steel framework, depicting eagles in flight.