Plans for Veterans Memorial are advancing

LAUREL — The planning and design of the new Laurel Area Veterans Memorial started in 2023 with the first fundraiser held during Laurel’s Cruise Night.

The goal is to raise $250,000. As part of the fundraising goal, an endowment is planned to also be raised to hold $20,000-$25,000 in reserve for the upkeep of the memorial and the replacement of the flag so that the veteran’s memorial can be maintained for many years to come.

Right now, the project has raised $195,000. As with any fundraising project, donors want to feel comfortable that their money is being spent wisely.

The memorial committee has created a memorial that pays tribute to the veterans in the area without being a burden on the community.

The location of the memorial will be just east of the community center. There will be an arch greeting visitors and large granite tablets honoring the different services, the American Legion, and the VFW.

Behind that, there will be six tablets with names of service members from the area.

At the back will be a battlefield cross surrounded by two tablets listing the names of those from the area that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The memorial will be done in phases with the first phase starting with concrete and lighting. The rest will be done in phases as funds become available.

If a departed veteran is buried at the Laurel, Concord, or St. Anne’s (Dixon) cemeteries, their names are already on the engravers list.

A pamphlet is not required but a donation from these veterans’ families is certainly appreciated.

Informational pamphlets can be found at Security and Citizens Bank, Laurel’s Hometown Market, city offices, as well as the vets club.

If anyone wants to have a veteran’s name engraved on the granite, please complete a pamphlet along with a minimum $100 donation.

Completed pamphlets can be dropped off at Security Bank or online via: https://www.nebcommfound.org/give/laurel-area-community- foundation-fund/.

The cutoff for the initial list of names will be April 15. After that names will still be collected and added periodically.