By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
Next Monday is Memorial Day, and the Northfield community will be hosting its annual Memorial Day Service at 9 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park. In the lead-up to the service next week, KYMN News will be talking some time to share about the work and stories of veterans in our community. See all the stories in this series here.
Today, we are focusing on the elements of Veterans Memorial Park. Discussions about building the current park started in 2000, with the City and Lions Club identifying the land next to Riverside Park as an ideal spot for the veterans’ memorial. In 2003, the parks committee, led by the local VFW and American Legion, began accepting offers for contributions to paving stones in the park. In 2 years, the effort resulted in 850 paving stones being purchased. With the early success, fundraising began in full effort with the groundbreaking in 2005.
When visitors first arrive at the park, paving stones along each path honor the individual Northfield area veterans and their service. Each stone in the Walk of Remembrance has the honoree’s name, branch of service, and the conflict or dates he or she served.
In the middle of the park are three spires, representing three eras of American military history: the effort to gain our freedom, the struggle to maintain our national unity and the freedom of all citizens, and the effort to defend and protect the freedom of others. The tallest of the three spires is 21 feet tall, symbolizing the 21-gun salute. A bell sits in the middle of the three spires; it rings only to remind us of the service of those who have passed or to commemorate a special recognition. The bell was first used in the Southern steam locomotive line that ran from Minneapolis to Northfield, it was donated for use in the Peace Garden attached to the Schilling Museum. When the museum closed, it was acquired by the Machacek family and donated to the memorial
in memory of World War II veteran Marilyn Christie Machacek.
In front of the three spires, there is a solid bronze statue of a male soldier. Next to the bronze soldier is a Wall of Honor featuring the names of the men and women in the Northfield area who have given their lives during wartime. On the other side of the bronze soldier is the Prisoner of War and Missing In Action tablet, recognizing the suffering and sacrifice of POW/MIA. Behind the spires and soldier are large tablets for each branch of the military, and then one tablet listing the major wars and conflicts in U.S. history.
Memorial Day 2025 Service Details:
When: May 26th at 9am
Where: Northfield Area Veterans Memorial Park
In Case of Bad Weather: the service will be held at Skoglund Athletic Center at St. Olaf.
See pictures and listen to last year’s service here
Newscasts on KYMN air on weekdays at 6am, 7am, 8:30am, Noon, 3pm, and 5pm. If you miss it live, you can subscribe on your preferred podcast app:
> Click here to listen on Spotify
> Click here to listen on Apple Podcast
Do you have a news tip or press release? Send it to us email: Logan@kymnradio.net
