INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Members of the Rotary Club of Independence, Missouri, re-dedicated a police memorial to Lt. David Kraxner Monday morning.
The club first installed the memorial in 1968, roughly two years after a man shot and killed Kraxner after he stopped a car which was reported stolen.
Now, the memorial has big, blue signs on all three sides. It reads, “In honor of those who dedicated their lives to the safety and welfare of the city of Independence.” Rotary Club members wanted the memorial to be more prominent and enlarged Kraxner’s name.
The club’s past president who spearheaded the project said it’s important to recognize the police and firefighters who serve the city as they leave one of the club’s main mottos: service above self.
Kraxner’s family is thankful for the recognition.
“A lot of people aren’t going to remember him [my father] probably as time goes by. But I hope they realize what he did and what these other officers do today in protecting and serving the public,” said Vernon Kraxner.
The memorial is on 40 Highway at Crysler Avenue.
