County Commissioners reverse decision on Covid-19 Memorial

The Dubois County Commissioners rescinded a decision to allow a volunteer group to place a memorial recognizing the front-line workers and victims of the Covid-19 pandemic on the courthouse grounds.

Originally voted on late last summer, Commissioners Chad Blessinger and Nick Hostetter both stated they wanted to reconsider the decision after hearing push-back from the public. Commissioner Elmer Brames confirmed his previous decision.

Chris Waltz and a group of volunteers originally presented the idea of a memorial to be placed on the southeast corner of the courthouse property in February of 2021. The group wants the memorial to acknowledge the pandemic and recognize those who have died from the disease as well as the many frontline workers who have worked selflessly in the face of uncertainty.

Designs for the granite memorial feature two benches and a pillar mounted on a stamped concrete pad that is about 10 feet in diameter.

The memorial was to be funded solely through the fundraising efforts by the volunteer group formed to create it. No taxpayer dollars were to be used.

Chris Waltz gave an update on the status of the project. He stated that though material purchasing is paused at this time due to the surging cases associated with the recent variants, the committee has been working with others on the inscription and artwork for the memorial.

He stated they have reached out to former Indiana Poet Laureate and Dubois County native Norb Krapf to work on the inscribed message on the memorial. The group has also issued a call for artists to assist in the artwork/imaging of the memorial.

Before voting on rescinding the August decision, Commissioner Blessinger said he had received some feedback on the decision and the majority of it was against the memorial.

“As I was going through this and doing my research, I kept hearing a theme over and over. And that theme was, ‘this is a fine idea. It’s just not a fine idea for being on the courthouse lawn,'” he explained.

What he heard was that it belonged at the hospital or even at the Dubois County Health Department or even at Dubois County Park.

According to the memorial committee member Beth Waltz, the hospital is not interested in a memorial being placed on its grounds.

Blessinger stated he had heard from many who were against the memorial being at the courthouse due to the county’s historical trend of using the area to recognize the military service and sacrifice of Dubois County residents.

Commissioner Elmer Brames said the main pushback he has received came from those wanting the area to be reserved to honor the military. Brames explained the courthouse belongs to all the people of Dubois County and that the courthouse already has memorials on it recognizing other individuals that have impacted the county aside from military service.

“I don’t see a problem with having diversity and remembering historically, diversity around the courthouse property,” he said.

He pointed to the deep impact the pandemic had and continues to have on the community. “The past two years have had an enormous impact on our society here in Dubois County. We’ve closed businesses, wedding celebrations, funerals … closed schools, went virtual,” Brames said. “We weren’t allowed in nursing homes to visit it our relatives, nor hospitals. We’ve canceled entire sporting seasons. For god’s sake, we canceled the Strassenfest.”

“How much more impact can we have,” he said.

He also stated that the divisiveness Covid-19 has fomented is a concern for some naysayers to the memorial. Brames reminded the commissioners that not every war our veterans served in was supported completely.

“All wars have had their detractors, some more than others,” he said. “But that doesn’t enter into (the conversation) when we start to talk about how to honor the people who have served and the people who have lost their lives in those conflicts because they were doing what was needed to be done for the sake of the community.”

He pushed for everyone to set their differences aside and recognize those who have struggled through the hard times created by this disease.

Commissioner Hostetter stated he felt that Covid-19 memorial committee’s efforts were well-intentioned.

“I believe they wanted to bring people together to recognize this and do a good thing,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s become probably the most polarizing issue that I’ve dealt with in my lifetime. And despite their good intentions, the memorial doesn’t have the desired results of bringing people together.”

Hostetter said the pandemic and the social repercussions were ongoing and that he has reconsidered his original approval of the memorial. He likened it to building a memorial to the Vietnam War while we were still fighting the war.

“I believe that maybe through the lens of history, I could support this,” he said. “But right now, I just don’t believe I can support putting it out here on the courthouse lawn.”

During the meeting, representatives of local veterans organizations spoke in support of the memorial but against its proposed location. Kent Schreiner, president of the Dubois County Veterans Council, said he felt the endeavor was honorable. “However, I do not feel the courthouse lawn is an appropriate place for the memorial,” he said.

Darren Patterson asked if the courthouse had any protections in place to preserve the existing veterans associated memorials and the grounds for recognition of military service. Blessinger responded the Soldiers and Sailors Monument is protected for its historical significance but the rest of the grounds of the courthouse can be modified at the discretion of the county commissioners.

After hearing comments, the commissioners agreed to rescind their decisions in a two to one vote — Brames reaffirmed his support of the project.

Speaking for the memorial committee, Beth Waltz stated they were very disappointed at the decision. “We know we must respect the decision that’s made on that; after all, you represent all the citizens of Dubois County. So, we do respect that,” she said. “It does us no good to continue the challenge, even though many will be disappointed.”

She issued a call to anyone wanting to support a Covid-19 memorial in the area. “If someone wants to take the work my husband (Chris) has spent a lot of time on; nonprofits have spent a lot of time on… we are open to being contacted,” Waltz said.

If interested in helping, you can contact Chris at Chris.Waltz@Live.com.