The ball literally dropped this morning on the Veterans Memorial Plaza.



In this case, the ball was a 71⁄2 ton (15,000 pound) black granite globe, one of the final pieces of the $500,000 project on Dubuque's Chaplain Schmitt Island.



"I am extremely proud," said Keith Shearer, of Dubuque, and a member of the project's organizing committee. "This is something we've been looking forward to for over 21⁄2 years. We’re finally getting it done."



The plaza will be complete in time for its formal dedication on Nov. 11, Veterans Day. When finished, 30 lights will spotlight flags of each military branch, and a POW-MIA flag and the U.S. flag and will make the plaza visible from the Iowa/Wisconsin bridge. Two rows of red brick will be set around the base of four pillars commemorating the blood shed in war. Walkways will consist of granite pavers inscribed with the names of veterans.