It’s called “The Land of the Free,” and it will be placed so that it’s easily visible to anyone entering the park.

The Fort Dodge Senior High School Class of 1968 is raising money to pay the roughly $7,000 cost of the sculpture.

Fort Dodge City Councilman Terry Moehnke, who spearheaded the development of the park some 15 years ago, said he has thought about adding this sculpture to the park for about two years.

“I’ve had this sculpture in the back of my mind,” he said. “It was something I saw. It was something I liked. It’s going to be a great addition to the park.”

Members of the Class of 1968 have for several years chipped in to pay for the inclusion of all of their classmates and teachers who are veterans in a special section published each year by The Messenger on Veterans Day. Navy veteran Sam Hartman, a member of the Class of 1968, said donated money left over from last year’s publication was contributed toward the purchase of the sculpture.

All that money came from members of the Class of 1968 only. Now, he said, the class is asking others to join it in raising money for the sculpture.To donate, visit fdsh68.com.

About 15 years ago, Moehnke, a Navy veteran, envisioned a place to honor local veterans. The park along Badger Lake north of Fort Dodge is the result of that vision. It was originally called Veterans Memorial Park. It was renamed Terry Moehnke Veterans Memorial Park this summer.

The park includes dozens of memorial trees planted in honor of men and women who served in the armed forces. Each tree has a marker that identifies the veteran and their branch of service. Also in the park are some other sculptures, a monument listing the names of every Webster County resident killed in battle since the Spanish-American War of 1898, a marker honoring all those who served in the 1950-1953 Korean War and one honoring those who received the Purple Heart for being killed or wounded in action..

The newest sculpture, “The Land of the Free,” was made in California and has been delivered to Kallin-Johnson Monument Co. in Fort Dodge. Hartman said it will be placed on a limestone block just west of the monument to the Webster County veterans who were killed in action.