HOLDINGFORD SOLDIERS SHRINE OF WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

Dedicated in 1942 as the nation’s first shrine built to honor those who served in the United States Armed Forces, WWII, both abroad and at home.

Located across from St. Hedwig’s Church, the Shrine is 42 feet long, 18 feet wide, and 22 feet high. Four carved angels adorning trumpets stand in procession followed by a large statue of Christ the King.

Plaques with names of over one hundred soldiers were at one time embedded into the walls of the shrine, but today are no longer visible.

Four crosses on the shrine are in memory of four young men from Holdingford who died during the war:
*Elmer Kerestes, Pearl Harbor (Remains DNA identified in 2017 and returned for local burial);
*Walter R. Mattson, St. Lo, France;
*Walter Krystosek, Anzio Beach, Italy;
*Joseph Troxil, U.S. Navy who died at sea.

Recently the crosses have been updated in stainless steel and the addition on another which is dedicated to all men and women serving in our armed forces.

The Shrine was designed by Rev. Gilbert Winkelman, O.S.B., Dean of the School of Architecture at St. John’s University and constructed by Edward Feia, his son Donald, and many parish volunteers. Over 540 loads of fieldstone from area farms were used in the construction.