Search Results for: edmonds veterans plaza

Number of Results: 100

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Underway

Opportunities remain to honor individual veterans 

Edmonds Veterans Plaza

The Edmonds Veterans Plaza to honor and remember all who serve

How to be a part of the Plaza 

Now that basic funding for the Edmonds Veterans Plaza has been assured, the focus of public participation has switched to personal pavers and other naming opportunities. “We want to make sure that every Edmonds resident who wants to honor a veteran has that opportunity,” said Ron Clyborne, co-chair of the Plaza committee.

The Edmonds Veterans Plaza is a community-wide project designed to honor all U.S. veterans—past, present and future. The project is spearheaded by the local chapters of the VFW and American Legion, as well as volunteer committee members from all sectors of the Edmonds community, both public and private.

Pavers are 12-inch square tiles that will comprise the walkway in the memorial garden area of the plaza. Many —if not all—will be engraved with the name and military information of individuals who have served, whether living or deceased. Donors of $500 or more to the Plaza are entitled to have a paver engraved honoring a veteran of their choice. For those to whom the $500 requirement would present a financial hardship, there are a limited number of grants available.

The City of Edmonds has made a site available for the Plaza directly adjoining the City Council chambers at 5th Avenue North and Bell Street. The City Park Department has agreed to the ongoing care the facility. The triangular area is presently concrete paved and planted with trees and ornamentals, but the new Veterans Plaza layout will change the character of the plot dramatically.

The focal point of the design will be a long stone wall, approximately four feet high, divided into 10- to 12- foot sections. Between the sections there will be gently flowing waterfalls. The walls will be decorated with symbols of the five military services on one and the plaza theme and appropriate quotes on others.

A separate wall will remember those local warriors who sacrificed their lives in service to our country. Another will thank major donors that made the Edmonds Veterans Plaza possible.

Benches and stone seating cubes will be distributed throughout the site. A small memorial garden will provide contemplative seating and other silent tributes, all designed to contribute to a spirit of remembrance and healing for families and troubled veterans

NL0217_Veterans_Plaza2The second fund raising goal of $572,000 was met in mid-January. Financial contributions are still being accepted however, with a digital informational kiosk, drinking fountain and other enhancements now being targeted. Donations can be made at edmondsveteransplaza.com.

Construction of the Edmonds Veterans Plaza is underway, with the public opening, ribbon cutting and dedication planned for Memorial Day, May 29.

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Bid Accepted!

Edmonds City Council Unanimously Approves Contract

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Bid Accepted!At the December 13 meeting of the Edmonds City Council, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Carrie Hite announced the low bidder as K-A General Construction for $290,967.92. (This number does not include the seats, pavers etc, contacted separately)

The audience, including veterans attending the meeting, broke out in applause after the construction funding was unanimously approved.

Construction is scheduled to start in January, to be completed in time for a Memorial Day dedication ceremony.

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Status

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Status Ron ClyborneAt the July Post meeting, Ron Clyborne, pictured at left during the 2016 Independence Day Parade, Chair of the Plaza Committee, gave us an update on our new Edmonds Veterans Plaza. As of the date of our July meeting, funding pledges exceeded $500,000, well over our initial funding goal of $420,000.

The committee has decided to add an interactive Veterans Service Kiosk at the Plaza. This Kiosk will be a device similar to an ATM, the purpose of which will be to allow veterans visiting the plaza to access Veterans services information on site.

A delay in the bidding process has pushed out the projected dedication date beyond Jan 1, 2017. The committee will keep us informed as the completion/dedication dates solidify.

Donate for Edmonds Veterans Plaza

Edmonds Veterans Plaza is a community project to support, create and build memorials to Edmonds’ military veterans.  These memorials will be located in the current Edmonds Veterans Plaza.  A committee of volunteers manages the project, including involvement and support from American Legion Post 66, VFW Post 8870 and Ladies Auxiliary, Vietnam Veterans of America, the City of Edmonds, Edmonds Historical Museum, Corvias Foundation, and others.

Donate to Plaza

When the above button is clicked, a new online payment page opens and select a level of your donation. Alternately, please fill a DONATION FORM and mail your check.

Edmonds Post 8870 of VFW is a tax exempt veteran’s organization under 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your donation. Please keep this written acknowledgement of your donation for your tax records.

Learn more about the progress and efforts.
  Edmonds WA VFW 8870 City Council Approves Veterans Plaza Design

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Update Design Elements Edmonds Veterans Plaza Update Design Elements Edmonds Veterans Plaza Update Design Elements Edmonds Veterans Plaza drawing Edmonds Veterans Plaza drawing

Edmonds Veterans Plaza plan  Edmonds WA VFW 8870 City Council Approves Veterans Plaza DesignEdmonds Veterans Plaza sketch

How to be a part of our Edmonds Veterans Plaza Plaza Project Approaching Fundraising Goal

Edmonds Veterans Plaza funding tops $ 400,000!

For the past 241 years men and women have served our nation in uniform; in peace and in conflict, assuring that our freedom, declared in 1776, would continue.

Edmonds Veterans Plaza drawing

Our City of Edmonds has not had a place to so honor & remember those who have served. Thanks to VFW Post 8870, American Legion Post 66, The City of Edmonds and a group of dedicated individuals, Edmonds will finally have such a place of honor, to be prominently located at 5th and Bell, right in front of the City Council Chambers Building.

The total budget for the new plaza is $420,000. To date the organizing
committee has raised $ 400,000 and there is $20,000 yet to raise. The Hazel Miller Foundation, prominant among our major supporters, was an early donor committing $180,000 toward this project during the fall of 2015. We are very grateful for this support.

The time has come for the fundraising effort to look to the public. All Edmonds citizens are invited to contribute toward the campaign to raise the last $20,000.

Please consider a contribution of $50, $100, $250 or more so that the project can be completed. You can send your contribution to Edmonds Veterans Plaza, c/o Edmonds VFW Post 8870, PO Box 701, Edmonds, WA 98020 (make checks payable to Edmonds Veterans Plaza); or go online to http://
edmondsveteransplaza.com.

You may wish to honor a particular friend, relative or comrade in arms. We have the following opportunities to do so:

  • Pavers to honor a Veteran – $500 minimum donation
  • Bench Plaques to honor a Veteran – $1,500 minimum donation
  • Seating Cubes to honor a Veteran – $2,500 per side

(Illustrations of these features are available on the web site referred to above.)

Fundraising is to be completed by the end of May with construction beginning in June and the new Plaza to be dedicated on Veteran’s Day, November 11th, 2016.

The financial support of all of our citizens and particularly all veterans is
important so please send your contribution now.

Edmonds Veterans Plaza sketch

Raffle to Help Fund Edmonds Veterans Plaza

Edmonds Veterans Plaza RafflePost 8870 will conduct a raffle beginning in April as part of our contribution to the funding of the Edmonds Veterans Plaza. The raffle is expected to raise a total of $5,000 for the cause and will be conducted in part as an addition to our “Buddy Poppy” distribution efforts, as well as some special ticket selling events and the efforts of individual members and VFW supporters. Images of the raffle ticket and a promotional flyer are below.

Tickets and flyers will be available for distribution at the April Post Meeting.

Raffle drawing to be held at the Independence Day picnic, July 4, 2016
The winners need not be present to claim their prize.

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Raffle!

Help build a lasting tribute to Veterans; past, present & future

Donation $5.00 per ticket

See any VFW Post 8870 member for your chance to win these one-of-a-kind images.

First Prize:
Signed & Framed Original Seahawks Poster!

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Raffle 1st prize

Second Prize:
A Smaller unframed original Seahawks Poster

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Raffle 2nd Prize

Both pieces by Famed Edmonds Artist Michael Reagan, USMC Vietnam Combat Veteran, founder Fallen Heroes Project

Drawing at VFW/Aerican Legion Picnic, July 4, 2016
Need not be present to win

Edmonds Veterans Plaza drawing
Artist’s rendition of north wall area of the proposed plaza, honoring each of the five branches of service

Moving Forward on the Edmonds Veterans Plaza Project

Edmonds Veterans Plaza sketch

The presentation of changes and improvements to the original concept presented a year ago was approved by the Edmonds City Council. in a meeting in February. This allows the design Firm, site Workshop, to move to the 90% design phase and for the Fund Raising Committee to move forward in developing a new fund raising campaign directed to the general public.

The support of the VFW members that were in attendance at the City Council meeting was greatly appreciated as their presence sent a very strong message to the council. The EVP committees also appreciate the support of Post members who have donated and have promoted this VFW Post 8870 project to all their family and friends for their donations as well.

Other good news is that the EVP Co-Chairs & Steering Committee in conjunction with the design firm, have been able to reduce the estimated cost to build the Plaza from $450K to $410K and inasmuch as we have now raised $320k ..that leaves only $90K to raise …but we need to raise the entire $410K before we can begin construction. We need to start construction in June to be able to meet our goal of a holding dedication ceremonies on Veterans Day Nov. 11th, 2016, so we need every member working to raise the funds.

Individual veterans can be honored and remembered forever in the Plaza on one of the following three features: Stone Pavers, Bench Plaques & Seating Cubes. We have 8 bench plaques, 2 seating cubes (8 sides ) & 150 stone pavers that remain available. Following this page are forms on which to place your orders for any of these opportunities. Any veteran, from any conflict, living or dead, may be so honored.

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Individualized Naming Opportunities

Below, you will find the Plaza Contribution Form, which can be filled out with your contribution, or those of family and friends. you may also choose to make a contribution by credit card on the Edmonds Veterans Plaza web site.

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Campaign Gift Form

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Raffle!

To Help build a lasting tribute to Veterans; past, present & future, We will be raffling off two original, signed Seahawk posters by our own Mike Reagan.

1,000 tickets will be sold @ $5.00 each to raise $5,000 toward the Post contribution to Veterans Plaza construction costs.

Stay tuned for details of timing and ticket distribution.

Other fund raising activities continue and recent reports put the total just north of $ 280,000.

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Raffle 1st prize

1st Prize

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Raffle 2nd Prize

2nd Prize

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Update

Over $ 270,000 Pledged!

Edmonds Veterans Plaza drawingWith some verbal commitments we have now surpassed $270,000 in contributions, more than halfway toward our $450,000 goal. We would like to reach this goal by March 31, 2016, which would allow us to dedicate the new plaza on Veterans Day 2016!! It is expected that we will take this drive to the general public late in January. Wilcox Construction of Edmonds has offered to build the plaza at their cost, which would be a significant donation in itself. The city is expected to include Wilcox on the bid request list.

 

Naming Opportunities

Edmonds Veterans Plaza drawingCommander Blossey will be putting together a promotional piece to describe naming opportunities, to honor individual veterans, which include:

  1. A pedestal at $10,000 for all four sides
  2. One side of a pedestal is $2,500
  3. Individual Pavers are $500 each.
  4. 6 park benches at $2000 each.

It should be emphasized that these naming opportunities are for recognizing veterans, not for recognizing donors. There will be a donor wall to recognize donors who contribute at least $1,000.

Edmonds Veterans Plaza sketchParticipation of Post Membership Key to Funding Plaza

Edmonds Veterans Plaza planCommittee Chair Ron Clyborne has questioned the level of participation by the Post membership in funding the Plaza to date. Less than 5% of our membership has contributed as of the December meeting of the committee. Clyborne wants us to know that we have post members on the committee that have put in hundreds of hours on this long overdue project  that is “ Honoring all veterans…past, present and future” and it is hoped that all of our membership will step up.

Certainly, all of us are not in a position to make a large donation, but every dollar contributed helps and equally important, helps demonstrate how important this project is to our veterans posterity. Your contribution, however small helps. $10, $20, $50, $100 donations do add up and if every VFW member who has not contributed to date donated just $20 that would raise a very meaningful $4000+. American Legion Post 66 as an organization has donated $6000, VFW Post 8870 has donated $1000 this year with an additional $1000 pledged for next year …a very few individual VFW members that have contributed or pledged a total of $12,500 to date, including a single pledge of $ 10,000.

The committee asks that we please forward this newsletter to friends and family and other veterans who are not VFW Post 8870  members so that they too may consider a donation.

Edmonds Veterans Plaza

Edmonds Veterans Plaza UpdatePlease keep this project “front of mind” as we say in marketing. Comrade Clyborne and his fellow members of the fund raising committee will need an effort by the entire Post to meet the financial goals for the Plaza. If you have contacts who may be willing and able to help and don’t wish to approach them yourself, get in touch with Ron Clyborne or Jim Blossey so that someone from the committe can make the contact.