PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - A memorial to soldiers from Peoria County who served in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq is nearing a fundraising goal. The memorial will be titled "Final Salute." It will honor military personnel who served after World War II, including those who served in Grenada, Kosovo and other countries. Organizers say they're close to raising funds to cover the projected cost of $400,000. A recent fundraising event at a local bar helped with the effort. The memorial will stand in the Peoria Courthouse Plaza and will feature three bronze soldiers, depicted marching back to their bases. One will represent the Korean War, another the Vietnam War and the third will represent the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The memorial is a project of Peoria County government.
