SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – Monday is Veterans Day. It is a day to honor the men and women who serve our country.

A Hinton, Iowa, man built a memorial honoring the sacrifice many veterans make to our country.

“I call this my memorial,” Joe Courtright said as he looked at the exhibit installed in his living room.

He built this memorial exhibit in 2004, while Americans were fighting in the Iraq War.

“I decided to build this because we were going to war again, and this time we’re not going to treat them like that. We’ve said it before, you don’t have to like war, but you have to honor our military,” Courtright said.

It is a circular display, with flags highlighting the 5 branches of the military, putting their lives on the line for the country represented by the American flag hanging in the center of the circle.

Part of the memorial at the bottom was written by Joe to summarize the feelings he had while making it.

“This memorial of honor was created so that we do not forget the sacrifices made by members of our armed forces. Some gave their lives. Others gave of their youth, and yet more gave of their time,” Courtright read from the memorial.

It is also dedicated to the families who were waiting at home.

Courtright continued reading: “those who lost their sons, their daughters, their fathers and mothers, the soldiers who lost their brothers. We must not forget these sacrifices, nor forget those who serve today and continue these sacrifices. We must pay tribute to them every time we see the United States flag.

Even though he never served our country, he wanted to make sure that everyone who served felt the gratitude that these men and women deserve.

“I would like to see it somewhere for the whole public to see,” Courtright said.

This memorial lived in a few public places like Papillion, Nebraska, in a Texas Roadhouse for a few years, and one year at a motorcycle race for the military at the Icky Nickel Bar in Sioux City.

He’s back home in Hinton and Courtright wants to find a new space for him.

“For the public to see it, that’s what I really want,” he said.

If you think there is a good location for this memorial, contact Courtright at 712-251-8700.

Copyright 2024 KTIV. All rights reserved.