| TTVM Statue Sponsors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jonesburg State Bank 508 N. Highway 47 Warrenton, MO 63383 (636) 456-9020 www.jonesburgstatebank.com |  The Missouri Bank | Davis Meat Company 39 Highway NN Jonesburg, MO 63351 (636) 488-5227 www.davismeat.com |
The Battle Field Cross has no religious connections and was first started during the Civil War as a marker for casualties waiting burial. A piece of wood with the name, unit and date of death was carved or a piece of paper with the information attached. Dog tags were not issued but many individuals carved their name or unit on the buttons of their uniforms
During World War One soldiers were issued rifles, helmets and dog tags as part of their gear. Because of the large number of casualties, it become a practice to remove the bodies from the battle field and shallow graves were marked by the rifle with bayonet being place at the head of the individual and the dog tag placed for grave registration to know the soldier’s identity before they were buried in formal offshore cemeteries or sent home for burial.
This practice continued in World War Two. With three major fronts of the war, it was practiced in Europe, China-Burma-India and Pacific theaters. Bodies were removed from the battle field as soon as possible to reduce disease and preserve the remains. Shallow graves were again used as interment procedures until grave registrations could take care of the remains for burial in offshore cemeteries or returned to the US for burial. The rifle with bayonet, helmet with dog tags were placed at the head of the soldier.
This practice continued during the Korean conflict using the same techniques as World War Two.
The Vietnam conflict changed due to the mobility of the military and having morgues in country. In the previous conflicts the troops stayed in the area for a long time and memorial services were conducted by the clergy for the deceased allowing mourning by their brothers in arms at the interim gravesites. The Vietnam conflict mobility changes everything, allowing the causalities being air evacuated to rear areas. The remains were covered in ponchos, later in body bags and removed from the battle field direct to the morgues for processing. Memorial services were still conducted by the clergy in the combat areas. The practice of the rifle with bayonet, dog tags were continued but now the boots were added to the battle field cross. The clergy would hold memorial services allowing the units to show their respect and mourning of their losses. This practice continued through Desert Storm and the War on Terror.
The Battle Field Cross on the Warren County Veterans Memorial is based on the Vietnam conflict which was the 50-year mark from the end of WWI in 1918 and the dedication in 2018. The Battle Field Cross was sanctioned by the Board of Trustees and awarded to Liberty Art Works in Dutzow, MO. The M-16 rifle, bayonet, helmet and jungle boots were from the Vietnam conflict and the dog tags are blank to encompass all of those on the wall and the veteran’s names on the pavers in the walk of honor who will all pass in their time. The woman and child represent the family of the deceased. These are the Gold Star families who lost love ones in all the conflicts of the United States. In all conflicts, a soldier is lost and it has consequences for the men and women in the unit and most of all, the family back home.
These statues are one of a kind, and took a little over a year to design and create for this project. They are bronze statues and have a variety of patina coloring to give the life like features. In 2020 the Tribute to Veterans Memorial Committee contracted to remove the Lettering on the granite wall and striped. The Tribute to Veterans Memorial Committee chose to match the patina coloring and remount them on the wall making them more visible and complement the statues.
Your Statue support is greatly appreciated to have these cleaned, waxed and repaired as necessary every year to maintain the same patina coloring and shading of the artist.
Information courtesy of Wendell Webb