Two, century-old buildings are cornerstones for this special memorial to honor the local Veterans. The first is the historic 1888 Courthouse, built out of quartz rock mined from the nearby Blue Mound State Park quarry. The courthouse was renovated in 1988 yet its Romanesque design was preserved. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Veterans Memorial building was originally constructed in the early 1900s and used as the county jail and home for the local sheriff. In 2009, the building was rededicated after a $4 million renovation. It now stands to honor the area Veterans and is full of military history.

The local Area Chamber of Commerce is on the main floor. Photographs are featured on two floors by Luverne native Jim Brandenburg, an award-winning photographer with National Geographic. The Herreid Military Museum, on the third floor, tells of historical stories of local Veterans and now includes stories of war from Korea to Afghanistan. The fourth floor holds the Heritage Gallery that displays stories of men women and families during WWII and displays historical information about Luverne in “The War”, a WWII documentary, produced by Ken Burns.

To the south is the outdoor courthouse square, with a Bust of Warren Herreid II and Jeannine M. Rivet and the K.A.H.R. Foundation, philanthropists who made the memorial possible and ensure its’ preservation in the future. A large plaque honors them along with the citizens and supporters of the county. A cannon is displayed on site, with the walkway base filled with more than 1,500 engraved bricks.

Sitting benches with each branch of service surround 32-foot, granite pedestal that honors Veterans from WWI, WWII and Korea with names of those who gave their lives for their country. A lifelike statue of an Army Veteran holding a cane and the American Flag sits on the bench dedicated to the Army. A large, black granite monument lists the names of the local Prisoners of War (POW) and to those Missing in Action (MIA), stressing “their earthly resting place is only known to God.”