Honoring veterans

LAUREL — After several years of discussion, American Legion Post 54 and Veterans of Foreign Wars 4504 members have decided to launch a fund drive to build a Veterans Memorial in Laurel.

For several years now, local veterans have discussed their vision of building a Veterans Memorial here to recognize the service and sacrifice of all U.S. servicemen and women, from all branches of the military, who served our great nation during times of both peace and war.

Local veterans have spent much time gathering information and researching designs, costs and fundraising ideas for the project.

In January 2023, the Laurel City Council voted to offer the property located just east of the new Community Center as a prospective location for the Laurel Area Veterans Memorial.

The veterans accepted the City’s proposal as the site provides adequate space for the Memorial as well as parking with ADA access.

The Veterans Memorial will feature a large, centrally located monument with engraved military branch medallions. Multiple tablets with veterans names, military branches and service dates will honor our brave heroes.

Flags and benches will be incorporated into the overall Memorial design.

Large trees will be planted on the north side of the property providing a quiet place for reflection. The use of colored cement will create an aestheti cally appealing space, all while keeping with the design scheme of the City’s recent Downtown Revitalization Project and providing safe walking surfaces.

An arched entrance feature and lighting options are also being researched.

The estimated cost of the Laurel Area Veterans Memorial Project is $200,000-$250,000. Post 54 and VFW 4504 members are pleased to announce that with the assistance of the Laurel Area Community Foundation Fund and community volunteers, they have now transitioned into the Project's 'fundrais ing phase’. All donated funds for the Laurel Area Veterans Memorial will be processed through the Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF).

For more information, people are encouraged to contact:

Shane Kinkaid: American Legion Post 54 & VFW 4504 (402) 518-0429 Dwayne Freeman: American Legion Post 54 & VFW 4504 (402) 256-3564 Regg Ward: American Legion Post 54 & VFW 4504 (402) 833-8052 Keith Knudsen: Laurel Area Community Foundation Fund (402) 440-7591 Security Bank (402) 256-3247 Alissa Baier Community Volunteer (402) 256-6095 Karen Knudsen Community Volunteer (402) 375-8586 Nebraska Community Foundation Phone: (402) 323-7330