The memorial was originally created by Rock Art who has been chosen to perform the restoration work. Initial estimates of the repair costs were around $3,000.00 but Rock Art agreed to do the work for $1,000.00.

The damage was severe enough it will require removing several inches off the face of the stone, reshaping it and re-carving the inscriptions. Several of the base stones were also damaged and will need to be repaired.

If you have any information about the vandalism to the monument please contact the Gem County sheriff's office in Emmett at 208.365-3521.

If you would like to make a donation to help pay for the restoration costs please visit the official Freezeout Hill Memorial Flag web site. You can make a donation by check online.

Alternatively you can mail your donation to:
Home Federal Savings and Loan
250 South Washington
Emmett, ID 83617.
Make your checks payable to American Legion Post 49 and write Flag Project Account on the memo line.

If you have any questions please contact Jim Olson, Post 49, Flag Project Chairman at 365-7738.

Rock Art has donated four commemorative carvings and a $275.00 gift certificate to be raffled by the American Legion Post 49 to help raise money for the restoration costs and the expansion of the memorial itself, including lighting and additional security features.

The first stone to be raffled will be "God Bless America". The auction will be conducted by Darlene Davis at her annual open consignment auction starting 10 AM on Saturday 29 March in Emmett, ID. Click on the picture to view a larger version.

You can purchase raffle tickets for the remaining two stones, marble plaque, and gift certificate for $5 per ticket or 5 tickets for $20. The drawing for them will be held the last Day of Emmett's annual Cherry Festival Saturday June 14th.

For more information on where you can purchase a raffle ticket please contact Jim Olson at 365-7738.

Rock Art is proud to be associated with the memorial and is gratified to be able to do the restoration work.

Additional images of the restoration are below. Pictures will be added in sequence as it progresses.

John Englund removing the damaged face of the stone with a jackhammer

The "cleaned" stone after the initial jackhammer work has been done

Rock Art employee using a grinder to smooth out the surface of the stone after the jackhammer phase.

After grinding, the smoothed surface is sandblasted to remove all dust and restore the stones natural texture.

Catherine Englund preparing the letter templates for the text to be carved into the stone.

The lettering is now fully prepared and applied to the stone. Rock Art does all of its prep work by hand rather than machine which is how they are able to get the fine detail in their carvings.

Once the templates are adhered to the stone the individual letters must be removed.

The stone is now ready for sandblasting to carve the design and lettering.

Using an air compressor John Englund carefully carves the designs and lettering into the stone.

Once the stone is fully carved, the coloring is added. Several coats are applied to produce the quality required for an outdoor monument.

Randy Collins of Kelly Moore Ponderosa Paints applying Acryli-Master,an anti-graffiti coating, to protect the stone from future vandalism. Visit www.kellymoore.com for more information.

Setting the perimeter stones around the central monument.