GRAFTON, Ill. — The river city of Grafton, Illinois, is already a popular summer tourist destination—but after receiving a multi-million dollar donation, town leaders believe it could soon attract people from around the world.
If you drive up the Great River Road, just over the Jersey County line, the town of Grafton has a population of just over 800 people.
“Seventeen percent of the population of Grafton are veterans,” Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow said. “That’s the highest per capita in the state of Illinois.”
Since taking office nearly four years ago, Morrow has been on a mission to build a monument to all who served.
“I told the City of Grafton as the Mayor that this is going to be a gift for the City of Grafton,” Morrow said. “We don’t want any funding or anything, we’re going to make it on our own.”
Despite having a $6 million price tag.
“Veterans have propelled this forward,” Morrow said.
That includes Alton based attorney John Simmons, a former U.S. Army Engineer, who recently donated $2.5 million towards what will soon be known as the National Memorial of Military Ascent.
“I started donating money as soon as I started making money,” Attorney John Simmons said. “I always felt like that was an obligation if I made a dollar I ought to give it to somebody.”
Set next to the Grafton Visitor Center, the memorial will feature 12 life sized bronze statues of Army Rangers climbing the bluffs in a re-enactment of Omaha Beach on D-Day.
“When you think about other projects like this, they’re in D.C,” Simmons said. “Most people aren’t going to get to D.C. to see it.”
The memorial will also feature an interactive military museum, which they hope will draw visitors not only from around the Midwest, but across the world.
“This will bring in bicycle tours, this will bring in boat tours, this will bring in veterans looking for something to do,” said Morrow. “It’s going to be for all veterans, whether they served in war or not, and their families.”
“There’s no more meaningful time, and no more meaningful project, anywhere probably in the world that you could support,” Simmons said.
At this time, Morrow is planning to dedicate the memorial on June 6, 2026, but he said there is still work to be done before they get to that point.