Warrenton to get statue of Vietnam War soldier

WARRENTON, Ore. (AP) – A statue of a Vietnam War soldier dressed in full uniform with rifle in hand and a teardrop rolling down his cheek is coming to downtown Warrenton by the end of the year.
 
The Daily Astorian reports that a groundbreaking ceremony took place last week for the bronze, 7-foot-2-inch statue. The soldier is shown standing with his right foot perched on a rock, staring down reflectively. The statue resides on a 6-foot-tall base.
 
Fundraising began for a monument 27 years ago, but an economic downturn stalled those ambitions. The local Veterans of Foreign Wars post decided to try again by applying for a biannual grant from the state that’s specifically allocated for monuments.
 
The Warrenton City Commission approved a $72,020 grant from the state Parks and Recreation Department in April.