Mayer Community Guide MayerNGGuide19-Final | Page 32

Photo by Jess Vealetzek
The newly completed Carver County Veterans Memorial in Mayer.
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to inquire for more information,
if they have a family member
who has served in the military, to
add their name to the memorial
pavers, and online registry.
The
centerpiece
of
the
memorial is a glass display case,
built into the main wall. It currently
holds the uniform and helmet of
Army Private Eugene Early, who
was born in Wright County in
1894, and killed in action during
World War I.
Heldt stated how the display
case will be reserved for service
members killed in action (KIA),
missing in action (MIA), or
prisoners of war (POW). Each
person’s uniform and biographies
will be displayed for 30 to 60
days.
The memorial is designed with
large display panels, etched
with images to honor the various
military branches.
Heldt explained that a bronze
sculpture of a kneeling soldier will
soon be installed, directly in front
of the memorial, and a second
group of paver stones will be
installed to honor the fi nancial
donors behind the memorial’s
construction.
Live program music was
performed by the Polka Sons of
Praise, and taps was played by
Randy Stender and Vern Elke.
A paver stone garden at the
memorial contains the names of
veterans from all over the county.
Each paver has been purchased
by a military family member,
and is engraved with a veteran’s
name, branch of service, and era
in which they served.
Guide to Mayer & New Germany 2019-2020