As the son of a Korean War Veteran, Steve Bolen says the Howard County Veterans and Military Families Monument has deep significance for him. He attended the dedication and opening ceremony for the monument and shared what the monument means to both him and his family.

“My father’s military service shaped my family’s understanding of duty, sacrifice, humility and love of country. This monument will honor not only those who wore the uniform, but also the families who carried the weight of that service beside them,” he says.

“Some debts are not repaid; they are remembered. We cannot fully repay Veterans or their families for what they have given. We cannot undo the danger our service members faced, the years they served, the hardships they endured or the burdens their families shared. But we can make sure their service is remembered with honesty, gratitude and public honor.

“For my family and me, this monument will be a lasting place of reflection and respect for all who served and for all who stood with them.”