Dominique Claseman, 15, of Olivia, Minnesota, spoke before the Olivia City Council to explain his desire to erect a veterans memorial in his city. He even had architect designs and space allotted to him.

It was a large effort, but he was convinced that the community would want to contribute to something similar.

His concept became a reality two years later.

On Memorial Day, hundreds of people came for the dedication of Olivia’s new soldiers memorial, which Dominique built as his Eagle Scout project just a few weeks before his 17th birthday.

“The memorial before you is the result of the generosity and support that I, and the veterans of this community, have received,” the young man stated during his statement.

Dominique’s accomplishment thrilled Ron Kopacek, who led the dedication’s honor guard.

“He’s fifteen years old, a sophomore in high school, and he’s going to generate $12,000 to $15,000 for us. Really?'”

But the dedicated teen admits that he sometimes wonders how he achieved it.

Dominique began the project by distributing information sheets, conducting interviews with the local radio station and newspaper, and establishing a table to pitch it at Olivia American Legion events.

He enlarged his initial notion of what the memorial could be as donations and purchasing of engraved pavers exceeded his expectations.

Dominique’s first objective was to raise $12,000 to $15,000, but he ended up reaching slightly more than $77,000.

Dominique, who hails from a long history of service veterans, asked his father, scoutmaster Mark Jurgensen, who fought in Iraq, to wear his combat boots and leave 21 footprints on the wet cement of the memorial.

Dominique’s achievement, according to her happy father, was not out of character for her.

“He’s one of those kids who likes to make sure he doesn’t disappoint anyone, and he works really hard for that,” he explained.

Hundreds of people strolled around the memorial during the dedication to read the 280 stones etched with the names of people with Olivia links who served in the war, some of whom never returned home.

The American, Minnesota, and POW flags flew over the cherished names, a center headstone, bronze statues, and black granite benches.

During the dedication, Kim Wertish, whose son James died in Iraq on July 16, 2009, thanked Dominique and hugged him warmly.

James was slain alongside two other Minnesota National Guard troops, Dan Drevnick and Carlos Wilcox, whose names are also inscribed on the veterans memorial.

“James has been honored in many cities through military connections, which is important to us as well, but this is our hometown,” Kim added.

Mark Hebig, whose father Alfred Hebig served in Korea and is commemorated on one of the pavers, drove two hours to attend the ceremony.

“I never got to know him well because he died in a car accident when I was a year old,” he explained. “It’s been a long time, but you never forget.”

The scouts’ Aaron Russell, a district executive, described the veteran’s memorial as “something special.”

“We were trying to figure out if there had been a project of this scale in recent memory, especially given the amount of money raised.” “We couldn’t think of or find anything remotely similar,” he explained.

“I’m an Eagle Scout myself, and I raised maybe $700, $800 for (his project) total, and I thought that was tough at the time,” he added, smiling. I can’t even begin to imagine.”

The veterans memorial is located in Olivia’s Kubesh Park, near the crossroads of US Highways 71 and 212.

Dominique dug a shovel of earth during a ceremonial groundbreaking in early May before handing off the job to hired contractors.

Dominique, who has two younger brothers, hopes that one day the memorial can be expanded to include their own Eagle Scout projects.

Dominique, thank you for your lovely homage to our veterans.

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