Veterans Monument columns arrive as project moves toward April installation

Six massive basalt columns have arrived on the Mendonoma coast, marking a major milestone for the Northern California Coastal Veterans Monument (NCCVM).

Construction of the monument began last August on the grounds of Point Arena Lighthouse. For NCCVM Board President Kenny Jowers, the delivery of the columns serves as visual representation of the community's continued support for the decade-long endeavor.

"Those columns have been bought and paid for by the generosity of those who have donated to our incredible project," Jowers said.

The six 12-foot-tall, multi-ton columns were sourced from Tumble Stone in Hayden, Idaho.

"Three of our board members flew up to Idaho a couple of months ago and literally went down to the quarry and picked out the columns," Jowers said.

NCCVM board members spent days looking at hundreds of column options, made from basalt, a fine-grained black volcanic rock formed from cooled and hardened lava.

Before delivery, the columns were transported from the quarry to a warehouse. There, officials engraved the stones representing various branches of the U.S. military—a process that required prior approval from each branch.

Board member Kent Busley spent months working to secure approval, which the board says was delayed by the 2025 government shutdown and ultimately affected the monument's timeline.

One of the most complex approval issues involved the Air Force and Space Force, which will share a column.

"The Air Force would not allow us to have their Air Force symbol without the Space Force symbol," Jowers explained.

The monument will also include a column dedicated to the Merchant Marine, which was especially important to the NCCVM board.

"During World War II, the Merchant Marine played such a big part in the success of that conflict," Jowers said. "We wanted Marine members who served to be remembered in one of the columns."

Transporting the finalized columns and benches—five stone benches that will sit between them—required two 18-wheeler flatbed trucks.

Despite challenges navigating narrow coastal roads, everything arrived safely and is being held in a secure location until installation, now scheduled for April after heavy rains postponed the original February date.

The monument's design includes layered symbols and intentional orientation, with emblems facing inward and each military branch represented in a specific direction.

After installation, crews will continue work in late spring or early summer to add finishing elements. This will include laying flagstone and installing kiosks—one explaining the monument's purpose and another honoring volunteers who contributed money, time, and effort.

Among those supporters is a biologist from Petaluma who is also a veteran.

"She so believed in our mission that she donated all of our biological reviews," Jowers said.

A big part of the monument's fundraising has come from the "Names Project," which allows individuals to have the name of a veteran engraved into granite slabs at the monument for a $1,000 donation. Two of the five planned slabs are already filled.

"We realize that $1,000 for some people is not an option; it's just too expensive," Jowers said. "For those who cannot afford that but want to be recognized or have a loved one be recognized on the monument, just get in touch with us through our website, and we will absolutely work something."

Jowers emphasized that the monument is not exclusive to local veterans and is intended to honor service members across generations.

"This is a living monument," he said. "This is not something of the past. It's the past, present, and also the future."

As the NCCVM team considers the monument's final stages, their intention is to leave a lasting, positive impact on the environment.

"We want to improve the coastal prairie habitat beyond its original condition, which will include working with conservation groups."

For those involved, every step in the project has been emotional after years of planning and fundraising.

The monument, first envisioned in 2016, has been guided by a board that has met weekly since 2019 to bring the concept to life.

"We had this dream and this vision of honoring people who gave so much for our freedom," Jowers said. "And particularly in times in which we're living, it's even more important than ever that we have symbols of gratitude to those who not only have served us in the past, but are currently serving and who will be serving in the future to maintain our country as a democracy."

A dedication ceremony will be planned once construction is complete. While Veterans Day 2026 remains the target, Jowers said the monument may be ready in time for a late summer or fall dedication.

For more information, visit norcalcoastvetsmonument.org.