In May of 2005, Charlie Emmendorfer had an idea to build a bell to honor his father-in-law’s military service and to honor the service of all U.S. Military Veterans. The result is the beautiful stainless-steel bell housed in a unique octagon building in Barber Memorial Park. You can visit the memorial during daylight hours when Barber Park is open.
In 2007, as the bell was nearing completion, Charlie and three members of the American Legion Post #367 formed a committee to raise funds to build a building to house the bell. Wayne White, Charlie Persons, James Stewart, O.D. and Charlie Emmendorfer formed a 501(c)(3) charity, with the help of attorney Otis Stout. Over $200,000 was donated to construct the memorial. Montrose Township provided the property in Barber Memorial Park on which to build the memorial. The official ground breaking occurred on June 3, 2016. It took only nine years from the time the committee began to raise funds until the memorial was completed. Quite an accomplishment for this community effort.
The photo and information about any honorably discharged U.S. veteran from any branch of service (including Reservists and National Guardsmen), from any state and from any service era may be submitted for display in this veterans memorial. As of January 2024, there are approximately 800 veterans who are honored by their friends and families, including an astronaut and a Medal of Honor recipient. To include your veteran, please download a submission form from our website at www.vetsbell.org and make a donation.
We need to honor and remember the sacrifice and service of all U.S. military veterans throughout our country’s history. This memorial serves to honor them every day, not just a couple of days each year.
James A. Stewart, O.D., Chair
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