Monett in Barry County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Christopher G. Stark Memorial
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13.
Under a picture of Specialist Clark:
US Army
705th EOD
18 August 1988 - 28 February 2011
KIA Afghanistan
Erected 2012 by the family of Christopher G. Stark.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, Afghanistan.
Location. 36° 54.651′ N, 93° 55.692′ W. Marker is in Monett, Missouri, in Barry County. Memorial is on Monett South Park Walking Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Hwy 37 and Hwy 60 South Park Hwy, Monett MO 65708, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Purdy Veteran's Memorial (approx. 6˝ miles away); Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (approx. 6.6 miles away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.6 miles away); Lawrence County (approx. 8 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. 8 miles away); Lawrence County Veterans Memorial (approx. 14.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Monett.
More about this memorial. The bench rests at Monett's South Park near the jet and the Christopher Stark Memorial Garden. It is dedicated to a fallen hero and all members of the United States Armed Forces, who serve and protect the United States of America.
Regarding Christopher G. Stark Memorial. On the one-year anniversary of the death of Army Specialist Christopher Glenn Stark who was killed in action in COP Tangi, Afghanistan, on Feb. 28, 2011, a bench was placed at Monett's South Park. The monument memorializing Stark's sacrifice was dedicated in a special ceremony at the park. Teresa Stark, mother of the fallen hero, and members of the U.S. Army's 705th EOD team, who served alongside Christopher in Afghanistan, attended the event.
"Christopher's photo on the bench represents the military and those serving in other countries as we speak, allowing us to go about our daily lives without concern for what's going on over there," Teresa Stark (mother of Christopher) said.
Additional commentary.
1. Christopher G. Stark Memorial Garden
Students who chose to work at Monett's South Park for the school district's Community Service Day completed a very moving project to honor Army Specialist Christopher Stark, who was killed in action on Feb. 28 in Afghanistan.
Students worked under the supervision of Ivy Nelson, Monett High School English teacher, to help set up a small granite marker surrounded by red, white and blue pansies proclaiming the site as the Christopher Stark Memorial Garden. The memorial will serve as a tribute to all of Monett's military personnel who have given their lives in service to their country.
Nelson received generous donations from the Monument Shoppe in Springfield, who engraved and delivered the site marker to the school at no charge and from Lowe's, who donated the annuals for the garden. Walmart provided funding for edger stones from Meek's Lumber supplied the weed barrier and mulch.
Students raked the rocky soil to level the site before laying in the weed block and securing it with the paving stones. They planted the flowers in rings of red, white and blue, and then placed mulch around the fragile plants to provide warmth and protection while they take root.
"The kids working here today are all juniors," Nelson said. "This is their last community service project. By this time next year, they will have graduated.
"The donations were also very generous," Nelson added. "Lowe's, for instance, has already sent truckloads of supplies and employees to help our neighbors in Joplin who were hit by last Sunday's tornado. We really appreciate every business owner who contributed to making this project a success."
Students finished the project on May 26, 2011 just a few minutes before the arrival of Stark's mother, Teresa, and his brother, Trenton. Stark's grandfather, Max Brown, and a family friend, Floyd Baker, who joined the family.
— Submitted January 28, 2013, by Mary Thurman of Wheelerville,, Missouri.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2013, by Mary Thurman of Wheelerville,, Missouri. This page has been viewed 1,005 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 19, 2013, by Mary Thurman of Wheelerville,, Missouri. 2. submitted on January 22, 2013, by Mary Thurman of Wheelerville,, Missouri. 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 28, 2013, by Mary Thurman of Wheelerville,, Missouri. 6. submitted on January 10, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.