ROCHELLE — Approximately one year ago, the Rochelle Veterans War Memorial Association embarked on a project to install a bronze statue of a soldier in a kneeling in respect at the Rochelle Veterans War Memorial at Lawnridge Cemetery.  
This would be the first piece of bronze art in Rochelle. Donations were solicited from the community and the response was amazing, covering 95 percent of the cost and with over 96 percent of pledges fulfilled. Fran Volz, was commissioned to create the statue and the clay model has been completed.
Clay model of statue
Using this clay model, Volz is developing a wax mold of various parts of the statue which are being taken to a foundry to be cast in bronze. The bronze parts will then be assembled to form the statue and a patina added to the bronze surfaces for protection and beautification.  The City of Rochelle has completed the pedestal out of concrete, and a granite veneer will be applied to the outside surfaces of the pedestal.

Statue pedestal
The cannon at Lawnridge Cemetery has been moved to a new concrete pad and the pedestal will be installed this spring. A contractor will install the granite veneer and the statue will be secured to the pedestal. There is still time to be part of this project.
Contribution forms are available online at the City of Rochelle website — www.cityofrochelle.net — and at the Rochelle VFW.  Thank you to all who have contributed to this historic and very fine piece of art in Rochelle.
Weather permitting, the plan is to dedicate the statue on Memorial Day 2020.