thedrifter
06-26-07, 05:26 AM
June 26, 2007 - 12:47AM
Memorial backers to plug away
ANTONIO VELARDE
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Faced with the possibility of getting only half the pledged funding it expected from Onslow County and the city of Jacksonville next year, the Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation isn't ready to slow down.
Its work on the proposed $3 million-plus Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial will not be affected, said foundation treasurer and fund-raiser Clinton Williams.
"No, I won't let it, because one way or the other, it's going to go up," Williams said.
At recent workshops for their 2007-08 budgets, Onslow County commissioners and Jacksonville City Council members reviewed their individual commitments to the foundation of $100,000 a year for 10 years.
The Board of Commissioners last week approved the county budget, which included a $100,000 commitment for next year. The Jacksonville City Council, which has yet to adopt its budget, plans on deferring the city's annual commitment in order to reduce a proposed property tax rate increase.
Larry Fitzpatrick, president of the foundation, said he understood the reason for the city's deferral.
"We understand that, due to their budget shortfall, the reason they were not able to do it this year," Fitzpatrick said. "So we'll be looking forward to their contributing next year."
For now, the foundation will continue raising funds. Foundation members have raised more than $1 million from the city and county, as well as from private donors.
While foundation members are soliciting local businesses, they are also asking for support from the general public.
"They don't have to be a veteran to help us," Clinton said.
Donations can be sent to Vietnam Veterans Memorial, P.O. Box 7325, Jacksonville, NC 28540. Interested persons can also attend the foundation's monthly meetings at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at Britthaven of Jacksonville, 225 White Street.
On Sept. 22, the foundation will hold its first Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial Motorcycle Run to raise funds. The motorcycle run will travel N.C. 172 through Camp Lejeune and end at New River Harley-Davidson, where riders will find food, live music and a chance to win prizes.
The foundation showcased a design change to the memorial last month that includes a shaded rotunda with a reflecting pool surrounded by a curved glass and granite wall covered with name inscriptions.
The memorial, which will be located on three acres in the Beirut Memorial Gardens off Lejeune Boulevard near the Camp Johnson entrance, is to honor the more than 9 million veterans who served in the armed forces during the Vietnam War. This includes the more than 58,000 who died during the conflict and the more than 2 million who served in Vietnam.
Contact Antonio Velarde at avelarde@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, ext. 8464.
Ellie
Memorial backers to plug away
ANTONIO VELARDE
DAILY NEWS STAFF
Faced with the possibility of getting only half the pledged funding it expected from Onslow County and the city of Jacksonville next year, the Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation isn't ready to slow down.
Its work on the proposed $3 million-plus Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial will not be affected, said foundation treasurer and fund-raiser Clinton Williams.
"No, I won't let it, because one way or the other, it's going to go up," Williams said.
At recent workshops for their 2007-08 budgets, Onslow County commissioners and Jacksonville City Council members reviewed their individual commitments to the foundation of $100,000 a year for 10 years.
The Board of Commissioners last week approved the county budget, which included a $100,000 commitment for next year. The Jacksonville City Council, which has yet to adopt its budget, plans on deferring the city's annual commitment in order to reduce a proposed property tax rate increase.
Larry Fitzpatrick, president of the foundation, said he understood the reason for the city's deferral.
"We understand that, due to their budget shortfall, the reason they were not able to do it this year," Fitzpatrick said. "So we'll be looking forward to their contributing next year."
For now, the foundation will continue raising funds. Foundation members have raised more than $1 million from the city and county, as well as from private donors.
While foundation members are soliciting local businesses, they are also asking for support from the general public.
"They don't have to be a veteran to help us," Clinton said.
Donations can be sent to Vietnam Veterans Memorial, P.O. Box 7325, Jacksonville, NC 28540. Interested persons can also attend the foundation's monthly meetings at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at Britthaven of Jacksonville, 225 White Street.
On Sept. 22, the foundation will hold its first Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial Motorcycle Run to raise funds. The motorcycle run will travel N.C. 172 through Camp Lejeune and end at New River Harley-Davidson, where riders will find food, live music and a chance to win prizes.
The foundation showcased a design change to the memorial last month that includes a shaded rotunda with a reflecting pool surrounded by a curved glass and granite wall covered with name inscriptions.
The memorial, which will be located on three acres in the Beirut Memorial Gardens off Lejeune Boulevard near the Camp Johnson entrance, is to honor the more than 9 million veterans who served in the armed forces during the Vietnam War. This includes the more than 58,000 who died during the conflict and the more than 2 million who served in Vietnam.
Contact Antonio Velarde at avelarde@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, ext. 8464.
Ellie