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A proposed memorial for fallen World War II and Korean soldiers was approved at Tuesday’s Winchester City Commission meeting.

A local non-profit, the Clark County Veterans Council, began advocating for the memorial years ago and brought it to the Commission’s attention again during a meeting on June 6.

The council asked that the memorial be placed at the southeast corner of East Broadway Street and Church Alley, which the Commission agreed to.

The proposed memorial will have a sidewalk leading to it with memorial bricks. The proposal shows that there will be short curved walls so that visitors would have a place to sit and contemplate. The length of each wall will represent the number of days for each conflict, with the dates of each inscribed. There will also be a 40-foot flagpole with the American Flag and the POW/MIA flag illuminated with a solar-powered light. In addition, the memorial would have seven trees, each representing a year of the two wars.

Eighty-two Clark Countians lost their lives during World War II, and 19 lost their lives during the conflict in Korea. So the most poignant part of the memorial will include 101 marble plaques to symbolize and commemorate each soldier’s life. The plaques will bear the name, rank and unit of each soldier, as well as the date of both their birth and death.

The members of the Commission supported the memorial but did voice one concern.

“Chuck, the only thing I have basically heard from the commissioners is that they are concerned that there is too much concrete,” said Winchester Mayor JoEllen Reed. “We are going to ask that we have the final say on the final design, and we would like you to resubmit some things with less concrete. Other than that, we are happy.”

Representing the council, Chuck Witt provided some specifics on the current design.

“Presently, it is about 1,444 square feet. I looked at it again, and I think we can reduce that by about 1/3 and still have sufficient area there for people to congregate,” Witt said. “Additionally, the walk going into the plaza right now shows as eight feet wide. I think we can reduce that to six feet and still have adequate space for people to pass.”

After some back-and-forth discussion, the city and the council will work together to spray paint around the proposed site to see how the dimensions would fit in the area.

After the motion passed, Reed lauded the council.

“I applaud you as the Commission applauds you and thank you for sticking with it. We hope to do you proud with what’s going on,” the mayor said.

In other business, the Commission…

• Approved a request to close Depot Street on Oct. 21 from noon to six p.m. for the Winchester Pride and Inclusion Fest.

• Approved a request to close West Washington Street from Maple to First Street from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 12 for a Back 2 School Prayer Vigil.