At the center of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial in Bismarck, N.D., a solitary pier contains a sculpture of the battlefield cross, used on battlefields since the Civil War. Stonewalls double as a seating area and include three piers with granite capstones.

The North Dakota National Guard (NDNG)and the city of Bismarck, N.D. wanted to create a memorial to honor guard men and women who have served and lost their lives in the Global War on Terrorism. Project funding was not specifically allocated, so the NDNG and the city sought public and private donations for construction efforts. Fundraising efforts required getting the word out to area residents and informing them about the status of the project, including the development of the concept plan and its essential components.

Bismarck city leaders approached Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson (KLJ) to develop the concept plan. Understanding the limited budget and crucial design concepts and graphics to solicit funding, the firm offered landscape architectural and engineering services as in-kind donations.

Graphic depictions of the memorial site were key in securing in-kind services, donations and materials to cover projected costs. NDNG offered a small undeveloped portion of grass at the front entrance of Fraine Barracks, state headquarters for the NDNG, to use for the memorial location. KL&J's concept contained reused and recycled materials, offering cost savings, while providing a memorial with a sense of timeless and enduring quality. Solutions not only considered the space and necessary components, but also how people would use the space. The landscape architectural firm carefully weighed the emotional response the space would evoke.

The memorial design by Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson (KLJ) included specifying fieldstone, granite and turf. The KLJ staff worked with shovels and gloves, side-by-side with family members who have lost loved ones to this war, creating a deep sense of ownership, while helping reduce installation costs.

Stonewalls double as a seating area and include three piers with a granite capstone laid at an angle. The walls house name plaques of soldiers who have died in the Global War on Terrorism. The height of the capstone and angle allow visitors to reflect, touch and contemplate the names engraved on the plaques, and each individual's sacrifice.

KL&J selected natural landscape materials, including fieldstone, granite, graceful grasses and other hardy landscaping plants. The landscape was designed with low-water use and minimal maintenance in mind, keeping future costs to a minimum.