WILMINGTON — A veterans memorial planned at the Public Safety Facility on Beaver Street is estimated to cost $250,000 and organizers are fundraising to fill the current gap.
"I would like to get together with someone to reach out to resources to make that web, so to speak, of fundraising bigger," Mike Linnehan, commander of the American Legion Nelson E. Pickwell Post #15 in Wilmington, said in an interview last week. "All the plans are going forward."
Using 1 percent local option tax revenue earmarked for economic and community development, the Wilmington Select Board contributed $50,000 to the project. As of Friday, the town reported having $3,791 in additional donations.
At a Select Board meeting promoting the project earlier on, Walter White of Wilmington said he felt as though veterans had been disregarded in town since there's no memorial. Other communities have veterans memorials.
White returned from the Vietnam War in uniform at the airport and was pelted with tomatoes.
"So he went into the bathroom and changed into his civilian clothes, caught a bus back home then called his supervisor at Grand Union and asked for his old job back," Linnehan said. "He worked there for about 30 years."
White decided not to take the opposition to the Vietnam War personally after being accosted at the airport, Linnehan said. Instead, since the 1970s, he went around identifying gravesites of veterans and putting American flags on them.
White keeps a three-ring binder with all the information he has collected about local veterans.
"He's found red coats," Linnehan said. "It's an amazing thing he did on his own. No one's ever asked him to do that."
White's project shows "camaraderie and compassion for his brothers and sisters he's never met," Linnehan said.
"We talk about Americans getting away from history," Linnehan said. "My God, he's starting up the flame again for American history."
Linnehan said he finds all veterans memorials "very creative and very inspiring ... and very humbling when you go and read the names." The local project had been inspired by the Moving Wall, which is a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., that has come to Wilmington, Brattleboro and Bennington.
When the Moving Wall came to Wilmington, Linnehan guarded it overnight. Although, he didn't think anyone would try to damage the memorial.
"I felt like all the kids and adults had respect for the veterans," he said. "Some of their family members were on the wall."
Since Linnehan didn't enlist in Vermont, he wasn't included on a veterans memorial in Whitingham. He went to Iraq, served his country for 21 years in the Air Force and has been a taxpayer in the town since 1992 so he fought for inclusion but was told by the local American Legion and the state of Vermont that the Legion makes the decision.
White volunteered Linnehan to lead the Wilmington initiative, Linnehan said. Linnehan was told his name will be included on the memorial.
"Walt is very concerned," Linnehan said. "He's worried he will pass away and it will never get done. He wants to see it get done."
Included on the memorial will be veterans who lived in Vermont regardless if they stayed in town throughout their lives. A monument at the Public Safety Facility for Mark Dooley, a Wilmington police officer killed in action in Iraq, will be moved to another spot on the property.
Linnehan described architect Eric Craven as being passionate about the project.
"He's continued to drive forward on the project and continued to keep the ball rolling," Linnehan said.
Craven's father served in Vietnam, his grandfather fought in World War II and his brother was in the Gulf War. All three men have since died.
Bringing his son to taekwondo class one day at the Old School Community Center in Wilmington, Craven was approached by the instructor — Linnehan — afterwards. Craven initially volunteered his efforts, developing an original concept then refining it with more accuracy this year. He later brought on a landscape architect who drew up some sketches.
Craven's company, Craven's Designs, was hired by the town to come up with formal construction documents to help with the bidding process. He said the town had set aside money in a cemetery fund for the project then provided $50,000 as "a kickstarter for fundraising."
"We've been working on those plans," he said. "We finished the schematic design phase of our design services and we're now moving into construction documentation."
Craven credited Christine Richter, town finance officer and treasurer, for helping get the fundraising link on wilmingtonvermont.us. A GoFundMe page might be established as well.
Plans call for a patio to be surrounded by memorial piers featuring the names of veterans from Wilmington who served in World War II to present day conflicts. On the side will be an approximately 16-foot-by-16-foot pavilion with benches.
"It could be a nice gathering place in the town for picnics or any type of little event," Craven said.
He noted the Beaver Street area has been under development for a while, as the recently constructed Public Safety Facility relocated the police and fire stations, and the former Twin Valley High School was turned into the community center. A new sidewalk also is going to be added.
