Veterans and their families came together in celebration on Wednesday in Mexico, Missouri, for the dedication of a new monument honoring Veterans Day.
The Central Missouri Veterans Monument Foundation has been working toward the construction of this monument since December 2024, with the city of Mexico partnering with the nonprofit to bring the project to completion.
Russell Davis, a Vietnam War veteran and the driving force behind the monument’s conception, expressed genuine astonishment at the overwhelming support the project received.
“It’s been a blur, if you want to know the truth,” Davis said. “It’s just been amazing that they come down and done it. No way could I ever believe that this we would have this done in two years.”
Members of the foundation board describe the completed site as a lifelong dream for Davis. Having spent his entire life in mid-Missouri, he was determined to provide fellow veterans in the region with a dedicated place where they could be recognized and remembered.
Funding for the construction was contributed by Mexico residents, whom Davis credits as steadfast supporters of their veterans throughout the years.
“Mexico has always been a good city when it comes to the veterans,” Davis said. “If they ask for help, they’ve always stood behind us.”
The speed with which the monument was completed holds particular significance for Davis, given the deep military legacy within his own family.
“My dad’s brother was in the Navy,” Davis said. “My dad joined the Navy. My little brother joined the Navy. My mom’s brother, she has four or five, and they was all in different branches of service. So I was brought up, you’re supposed to, so I volunteered for the Army.”
Brian Pursifull, a patriot who attended the dedication ceremony, noted that such a background is entirely common throughout this region of Missouri.
“Ninety-five percent of the families here in Audrain County has had some way or another that a veteran impacted their lives, whether it be a father, a mother, brother, sister, and her uncle,” Pursifull said at the ceremony. “So that’s why they were here today is to show their support for the service and sacrifice that our veterans have given us.”
Pursifull further emphasized that the community of Mexico holds a profound appreciation for the military and its veterans, rooted in the personal connections many families share with those who have served.
“I would challenge any other area, not that it’s a competition, but just to come and see the patriotism, how it runs wild here in Audrain County,” he said.
The monument is situated near a wooded area, thoughtfully designed to offer families and friends a peaceful space for quiet reflection and remembrance of those who served. It is this sense of permanence that resonates deeply with Pursifull, Davis, and others who attended the ceremony. The area is also planned to feature a centerpiece and will serve as a venue for future memorial services. Pursifull stressed that honoring those who have served is a fundamental responsibility of every American.
“So many have fallen for the rest of us to be able to stand. And as Americans, if we don’t get behind our veterans, we’re no better than who they fought against because we’re Americans and it’s our job,” he said. “I feel like it’s an opportunity God has given us to say thank you to the men and women that have preserved our way of life.”
