The centerpiece of our city is a tall, slender, war memorial rising from the center of a circle in the middle of town. At 284 feet, six inches, the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument was the tallest structure downtown for decades, and no building on Monument Circle is taller to this day. (The Statue of Liberty edges Soldiers’ & Sailors’ by 21 feet.)

Construction on the Monument began in 1888. Indianapolis was much smaller then and it also was not much over a half-century old, perhaps one reason why immigrants from several other countries – and the American northeast and south – came here. They were fueled by desires to make their mark in a city that was “new.” One of them was German architect Bruno Schmitz, who designed the Monument in a neo-classical style.

The impetus for building the Monument was to memorialize Hoosier Civil War veterans. At its completion in 1901, it honored the sacrifice of ordinary citizens killed during all the major American wars up to that time: the Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, as well as the Civil War.

The Monument, built with limestone from quarries about 50 miles south, now stands in memory of fallen soldiers in all wars. The robed “Lady Victory” stands at the top gazes directly south down Meridian Street, a sword in her right hand and torch held aloft in her left.

At noon today (the Friday leading to the Memorial Day weekend), a memorial service begins on the steps of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. It honors soldiers, sailors, aviators and others who died in the wars we sent them to fight. The ceremony may seem especially solemn today because the Defense Department announced this morning the 1,000th American killed in the war in Afghanistan. At the same time, the memorial service is one of the most inspiring events of the civic year in Indianapolis.

It’s called the 500 Festival Memorial Service. And this year, it has a corporate sponsor, Rolls-Royce. Perhaps that company’s engines power the fighter jets that roar over the city as the service ends.

Then the tumult, the music and the racing engines of the weekend begin. But we may not be able to celebrate the 500 Festival Parade, the 500 Mile Race, or even cookouts in the yard with family and friends, if people – willingly or not – didn’t fight for us.