Presidents Message 

Artist needed: Montrose Veterans Memorial Donor Update June 2024
by Les Williams, MVMC BOD president

June has been a busy month for the members of the Montrose Veterans Memorial Coalition. Everyone has been busy with the design project and getting it ready to for our first design meeting with our team members at the city and the County. 

On June 17th we attended a City Council meeting to be part of the City’s approval of our project and the Memorandum of Agreement. The next step is the design phase where our design at the new location will be examined by engineers to determine everything involved in constructing the Memorial. Once that is complete, we begin the bidding to determine the costs of both labor and necessary products to begin building. 

An update on the numbers of tribute bricks shows steady donations. The bricks have been a strong source of donations for us and we are very grateful for everyone who have donated. Our brick challenge is about 20 bricks short at this time. We are working hard to get the first phase of the memorial completed and ready for a brick laying ceremony on Veterans Day 2024. Some think we are stretching this date but its our goal is to lay 250 bricks on that date.

Moreover, I mentioned in the May update that we were looking for donors to purchase a service seal that will attach on a panel near the entrance of the Memorial. Since that time, we already have three of these seals spoken for. They are for the Coast Guard, the Army, and the Air Force. Our vendor has informed us that the cost will be around $550. That includes installing them on the granite panel when they are delivered. We have the Marine, Navy, and Space Force available. See the example below.

I’m sorry the monthly update is late but I was honored to attend the 80th Anniversary of the landing at Normandy. My wife’s father made the landing on June 6, 1944. We both were reminded that memorials mean a lot as we attended the D-Day activities.

The MVMC is also looking for a sponsor for bronze service seals. Please visit montrosevmc.us to donate for that cause, or stop by the Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans at 4 Hillcrest Plaza Way, Montrose CO 81401 to drop off a check. Or you can contact - Once again you can contact Amy at the Welcome Home Alliance at 720-357-2933 to purchase one.

Sincerely,
Les Williams