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Monuments and Memories (v.2)
Item 23 of 28
This is a contributing entry for Monuments and Memories (v.2) and only appears as part of that tour.Learn More.

Dedicated in 1997, this memorial includes twenty-five limestone pillars that include stories of war carved into their interior walls. The inscribed messages, containing diary and letter entries from soldiers, as well as all the names of those fallen, that make up The Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans and serve as a shrine and testament to military veterans of the twentieth century. The memorial centers on the experience of veterans in wars of the 20th century, specifically World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Thompson and Rose Architects designed the limestone and granite memorial located in Bartholomew County’s Courthouse Square, and it was funded by the Cummins Foundation Architecture Program.


A vigil held at the memorial serves as a solemn reminder of the consequences of war...

A vigil held at the memorial serves as a solemn reminder of the consequences of war...

The 25 pillars stand tall in downtown Columbus, IN

The 25 pillars stand tall in downtown Columbus, IN

The columns are all aligned in neat and organized rows of five, and while there are twenty-five in total, the inscriptions that line the interior walls of the limestone pillars offer what The American Legion describes as “intimate looks” (American Legion) into the personal lives and thoughts of the brave heroes of war. Diary entries of soldiers and letters to home are carved into the walls, shining a light on the overwhelming mental and emotional toll that war had on soldiers.

A stroll through the rows of pillars is no lighthearted task, as the names of all of the fallen soldiers of the county surround the various diary and letter excerpts on each pillar. The pillars themselves are a sight to behold, and yet it is the interior walls that carry the heaviest historical significance. Citizens of Columbus clearly desired a way to solemnly honor those of their own county who made the greatest sacrifice.

The Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans, The American Legion. Accessed September 18th 2020. https://www.legion.org/memorials/236294/bartholomew-county-memorial-veterans.

Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans, Culture Now. Accessed September 18th 2020. https://culturenow.org/index.php?page=entry&permalink=15374.

Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans, Pocket Sights. Accessed September 18th 2020. https://pocketsights.com/tours/place/Bartholomew-County-Memorial-for-Veterans-13479.