Southeast alum wants monument to veterans on campus

A Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents member is working on a plan to build a monument to honor veterans on the Cape Girardeau campus with private donations.

Between Memorial Hall and Academic Hall, on a trinagle of land near the main sidewalk, Tom Meyer wants to build a 3 1/2-foot-tall and 8-foot-wide granite monument.

The university has approved the area for this use, Meyer said.

The monument will feature medallions for each of the five branches of the military, a list of wars and conflicts involving Southeast Missouri State University students and two inscriptions, Meyer said.

Meyer will ask veteran Southeast graduates to contribute to the monument and its surrounding display, estimated to cost $100,000.

Around the monument will be paver stones listing people who contributed to the project, Meyer said.

The cost of the monument and its surroundings will be paid without funding from the university, Meyer said.

Meyer said the monument could be built in two years.

Inscriptions still are being considered, but Meyer gave two examples: “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices” and “Those that have fought in the past, those presently engaged and those fighting in the future.”

“It’s important for vets to recognize other vets,” Meyer said.

There will be an American flag and POW flag on each side of the monument, at least one granite bench and at least two other flag holders available for events.

Meyer said many areas on campus were considered, but the current location is fitting because of its proximity to Memorial Hall, named for service personnel who died during World War II, and it is in a high-traffic area on campus.

There are plaques around campus honoring the sacrifices of certain students, but Meyer said it is important to honor all veterans with a monument.

The Southeast Missouri State Office of Military and Veterans Services provided suggestions for the monument.

“It’s very important to show the students here that there are veterans that sacrificed their time, treasures and talents to protect the freedom and rights they enjoy,” said Jeremy McBroom, director of the Office of Military and Veteran Services.

Meyer became a Southeast student when he returned from the Vietnam War in 1972.

At that time, there were 700 veterans who were students, making up about 10 percent of the university’s student population, Meyer said.

Today, there are about 450 veteran students on campus, but 1,100 veterans, dependents and spouses receive benefits from the university — making up about 10 percent of the university’s student population.

“These families have to endure things, too,” McBroom said. “While the husband or wife have served, the family is left with an absence.”

bkleine@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address: 945 Normal Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO