Monument of Jacob Wetterling's '11 traits' donated to Maple Grove golf course

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. (KMSP) - The “11 traits” of Jacob Wetterling are now immortalized in stone.

The Just for Kids Foundation, an organization which works to improve the better the lives of children and families in Minnesota, donated the monument to the Rush Creek Golf Course in Maple Grove, Minnesota. The group presented the stone to Patty Wetterling, Jacob’s mother, and his brother.

Patty helped found the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center after Jacob was kidnapped in St. Joseph, Minnesota in 1989. Last year, Danny Heinrich confessed to abducting and killing the 11-year-old boy. The JWRC works to end child abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Just for Kids Foundation holds an annual fundraiser at the Rush Creek Golf Course. While contacting businesses for giveaways for the event, a member of the sales team at Jager Outdoors/M. A. Apparel & Promotions Inc. came up with the idea of presenting a monument of the Wetterling traits. Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies in Plymouth donated the stone.

The stone is etched with the following message:

“This stone has been donated by the Just For Kids Foundation to honor Jacob Wetterling’s commitment to a better world. Let Jacob’s 11 Traits be etched in stone so that both his loving memory and his values live forever.

Be fair
Be kind
Be understanding
Be honest
Be thankful
Be a good sport
Be a good friend
Be joyful
Be generous
Be gentle with others
Be positive”

Patty Wetterling said the monument is the “nicest tribute ever to Jacob” and plans to visit it when she is in the area.

The monument now stands at the first tee of the kids’ course at the golf course.