Located in Timber Linn Memorial Park, the Linn County Veterans Memorial honors the service and sacrifice of local veterans. The memorial was originally dedicated on May 30, 1969 and stood largely unchanged for nearly four decades.
In the early 2000s, a local Navy veteran, Garner Pool, visited the site and discovered that his brother, Sylvan B. Pool, had been left off the Vietnam War honor roll. His search for records led to the discovery of several other names that had been missed. This realization sparked a broader effort to expand the memorial to include all Linn County veterans who served in 20th-century conflicts.
Pool founded the Linn County Veterans Memorial Association, and with support from Albany Parks & Recreation and Director Ed Hodney, began planning an expansion. Community members contributed through loans, grants, and in-kind donations. An anonymous donor helped launch construction with a $21,000 loan.
As part of the expansion, supporters could purchase engraved “sentry bricks” to honor any U.S. veteran who served honorably. These bricks were placed facing inward toward the original bronze plaques, symbolizing solidarity and remembrance.
The redesign also included the relocation of a 36,000-pound Howitzer cannon, an effort led by Randy Martinak of the LCVMA and his cousin, a professional engineer. Today, the expanded memorial stands as a meaningful space for reflection and community gatherings, preserving the stories and service of Linn County’s veterans for generations to come.
