POWELL — Veterans will soon have another memorial in Powell after Powell City Council approved an agreement for the “Unmarked but Unforgotten” monument.
The statue is to honor unmarked Revolutionary War veterans’ graves located throughout the county, but it also nods to any American soldier with an unknown or unmarked grave.
It’s front face will depict a laser-etched image of a Revolutionary War soldier doffing his cap to a saluting present-day soldier, dated 1776–2026, on an eight-feet tall black granite tablet.
The back side is reserved for engraved names of the fallen, according to a memo sent to council from City Manager Andy White.
“I absolutely love the artwork,” Vice Mayor Tom Counts said.
The memorial will be erected in the Powell Cemetery, located at 78 N. Liberty St.
The “Unmarked But Unforgotten” program is a joint veterans memorial initiative spanning Delaware County, coordinated primarily by Delaware County Veteran Services and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
“We authorize up to $125,000 initially, and we’re here to support that because all veterans need to be recognized while they’re alive and while they’re passed,” Deputy Director of Veterans Services Bill Piwtorak said.
Sunbury and Delaware will also receive similar memorials.
A joint design-review committee, comprising representatives from Delaware, Powell, Sunbury, the Daughters of the American Revolution, Delaware County Veteran Services and the Veterans Service Commission, selected the design.
There was an open-design competition that closed in August 2025, from which Powell and Sunbury each selected the “Picture This On Granite” concept for the memorial.
Delaware opted for a sculpture by artist Alan Cottrill that will be installed in the fall.
Through the program, the Delaware County Veterans Service Commission provides the funding for the installation of the memorial, which will cost $100,000.
The commission will also provide an annual stipend for cemetery maintenance, according to the memo.
With council’s approval, White will ensure the agreement is signed between all involved parties before he begins coordinating for construction of the memorial.
