ANSWER THE CALL - SAVE OUR SOLDIER!
Project Scope
Time, weather and individuals have not been easy on this Soldier, and he is in desperate need of restoration. To organize the means to restore the statue, the Crystal Lake Historical Society formed the Union Soldier Statue Restoration Committee, to work on the project and establish a special fund to cover the costs of the work.
The scope of the entire restoration project includes the following work:
- Return the statue to an upright position
- Strengthen the internal support structure of the statue and base
- Replacement of missing rifle
- Relocate flagpole behind the existing memorial
- Install lighting around memorial for nighttime display and additional security
- Create Union Cemetery Veterans Concourse (brick pavers honoring veterans)
- Landscape Veterans Concourse and area surrounding memorial
The total cost of this restoration effort is approximately $60,000. The cost to restore the soldier sculpture alone is $20,000.
Internal X-Rays
In order to determine the damage to the internal support structure of the statue, x-rays were taken of the statue. These provide a fascinating view of "our" soldier:
Completed Base and Landscape Work
Through the efforts of numerous individuals and organizations, more than two-thirds of the necessary fundraising has been completed. These efforts have transformed the monument into what we see today. The work completed thus far includes:
- Memorial base supports installed
- Base concrete interior repaired
- New curbing installed
- Veteran pavers installed
- Flagpole moved
- Electrical service and lighting installed
- Dedication stone installed