Local veterans group seeks county match for $270,000 women's veterans monument

During the public‑comment portion of the March 26 meeting, Melody Wallace of the newly formed nonprofit She's the Vet asked the Daviess County Fiscal Court to consider matching funds to help build a downtown women's veterans monument.

Wallace said sculptor George Lundin has produced a sketch and is under contract to produce a life‑size bronze statue that the group expects to place on the riverfront near the Shelton Memorial. "The contract is for $270,000 to put a life size bronze statue downtown," Wallace said, and the sculptor requested an initial $90,000 installment with two additional $90,000 payments as work proceeds.

Wallace said the group's broader fundraising goal is $350,000 to cover the statue, granite pavers and a walkway. "We currently are at a little over $30,000 and we are we're still going," she said, and asked that the fiscal court and city commission consider matching each other’s contributions to get the project started, with an aspirational dedication date of June 12, 2027.

Court members thanked the speaker and expressed support for the idea; no formal matching commitment or vote was taken that evening. Wallace said the organizers have secured a riverfront site and have engaged veteran service organizations in fundraising and outreach.

Because the public comment did not request a specific appropriation that the court immediately adopted, the fiscal court did not act on a funding match at the meeting. Wallace said the group will continue private fundraising while seeking public partners for matching funds and site preparation.