Twenty-five years after a morning that changed America forever, a new story of duty and remembrance begins right here at home. On September 11, the Independence County Veterans Memorial Board is launching its capital campaign — inviting neighbors, businesses and families to help carve local history into stone for generations to come.
The board — representing all military branches, families and supporters — has officially set a $500,000 fundraising goal to bring the Riverside Park memorial to life in Batesville.
Joshua Morrison, who not only serves as the board’s commander but is also the Independence County Veterans Service Officer, said that the memorial’s reach extends far beyond Batesville. Designed to host patriotic ceremonies, school field trips and regional visitors, the site’s highest purpose is preserving the legacy of our veterans for generations to come.
“This isn’t just an Independence County project,” Morrison emphasized. “It’s a national memorial placed right in our backyard.”
What began as a ride to a VA appointment in Memphis between Navy veteran Joe Dry and Marine veteran Gregg Taylor soon grew into weekly coffee chats at McDonald’s. As word spread, fellow veterans joined them for breakfast, and it wasn’t long before they realized it was time for a bigger space, unknowingly laying the groundwork for the memorial project.
Now, the veterans meet every Friday morning at Whistle Stop, building relationships and community. That’s where the idea of the veterans’ memorial was born.
Morrison said that within the memorial, he would like to have seven different monuments representing the Army (military) values (loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage), and in the center, a copy of the U.S. Constitution with an open Bible on top representing God and country.
Joshua Morrison (File image via Lyon College)
The board’s vision is for every veteran, regardless of where or how they served, to step into that space, feel the weight of their journey, and find a moment of deep, quiet recognition.
In 2025, the Veterans Memorial Board asked the Batesville City Council for space in Riverside Park while renovations were underway, and the council voted unanimously to grant the space for the memorial.
Morrison also said the board is currently selling bricks at the site for $150 each. The bricks can be inscribed with veterans’ name, rank, service time/location, military decorations or other information. The honoree does not have to be local.
For information about the bricks, contact Morrison at 870-793-8812 or email icvetmemorial@gmail.com; or visit “Independence County Veteran’s Memorial Group, LLC” on Facebook.
File image of White River: Gena Tate for White River Now
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