County approves site for new veterans wall
The Press-SentinelApr 07, 2018
The Board approved a request by
Grantham had previously asked for use of the site, but County Administrator
Grantham assured the commissioners Tuesday night that the site wouldn't interfere with any plans for the landing. (Jeffords was not present for the discussion, having left the meeting early to pick up his wife from a trip to
Grantham also assured the commissioners that he would find the funding for the project.
He told the commissioners that he was representing veterans who had signed a petition for the wall, which he said would be more visible on
Most of the county's organized veterans groups, though, have gone on record as opposing the proposed location.
VFW concerns
Poindexter had expressed his opposition to the proposed location at an earlier county meeting, and the
"The members, however, did not object to the memorial and believed that it should be placed at the
Poindexter also said he had presented the commissioners and administrator with a list of questions to be considered, including the source of the funding, who will build and maintain the wall, who will manage and verify information and placement of names, whether the monument would be one wall or would include a component for each of the 65 conflicts involving American soldiers, whether there would be a cost to families for the engraving, and who would collect and manage money for the project.
"I would not like to see the county to have to step in later and take over management and cost of maintaining," Poindexter said.
Poindexter said the VFW will continue to conduct its veteran ceremonies and services in front of the monuments at the
Legion concerns
He asked, "What exactly will the wall commemorate? What will be the criteria once that is determined? How will it be funded? How will funds be allocated to maintain the wall and surrounding landscape? Where will the funding come from if initial funding is canceled or no longer available over the long term? Who will take on the responsibility for the upkeep and maintaining of the structure?"
Regarding the location, Strickland said, "The organizations wish to keep the monuments that are already constructed and possible future ones as centrally located as possible. This is so that ceremonies performed at these locations allow for the observers not to have to move throughout several locations around the county."
The
"It is my understanding that proponents of the new wall have been critical of the memorial wall at
"We, at the
"The American Legion Post No. 311, along with all the area funeral homes, work together to acquire the list of names that are to be listed on the wall on an annual bases. The American Legion Post No. 311 also pays to have the plates engraved that will go on the wall. Individuals may donate to aid in this effort, but it is all voluntary, and we do not solicit funds from local authorities or government."
Non-agenda item Though Grantham
spoke at length Monday night about a variety of topics related to veterans and his own activities to honor deceased veterans and those killed in action, he offered few details about specific plans for the wall.
Grantham was not actually on the agenda, but under "items with commissioners," Commissioner
Commissioner James "Boot" Thomas made the motion to grant use of the proposed site, and Wright seconded it. (Wright had initially tried to make the motion, but Grantham had interrupted him to make additional points.)
Some citizens have previously raised concerns that the Board is too quick to take non-routine, non-emergency votes on items not listed on the agenda after those items are brought up under "items with commissioners."
Strickland-who credited the commissioners with traditionally supporting veterans causes-said, "We, as veteran service organizations, wish to express that whenever individuals go before the Commission to propose building or funding such issues, that the Commission can seek advice through our organizations to determine what the veterans as a collective body wish done.
"We would also like to ask that when matters concerning our organizations will be brought forth before the commission, that we be notified in order to be properly represented at such meetings."