FY23 Veterans Memorial Grant
Veterans memorial welcome sign and memorial irrigation.
Greg Peterson, Jenna Schmidtke, Martin Howes, Sarah Hernandez
$72,750 in Fiscal Year 2022 and $72,750 in Fiscal Year 2023 are for a competitive grants program to provide grants to local units of government for veterans memorials to preserve the culture and heritage of Minnesota. The local unit of government must provide a nonstate cash match equal to the amount of the grant received under this paragraph.?
To meet our objective of drawing community, veterans and family members to visit the Monument for reflection, remembrance and celebration in honor of our veterans and active military:
? The site location becomes a park hub, connecting existing features to Crow River access, parking, and a direct sightline to Elmwood Cemetery where veterans from the Civil War to present are buried.
? The 70-foot diameter circular plaza will accommodate visitors on foot, in wheelchairs and those choosing to meditate from one of the seven-foot benches. The design showcases the six military branch monuments.
With over 7,000 Veterans in Wright County, the Rockford Veterans Memorial will offer an easy access location due to the main highway location, space and visibility.
? The Memorial Plaza site is on the park?s highest elevation, ensuring visibility from 3,100 cars that pass on CR20/Main Street.
? Rockford is a growing community of 4,500. Nearly 60 new homes were built in 2021-22, increasing traffic to 15,000 cars/day at the highway intersection that is one-half mile from the Memorial site.
? Community support exceeded City of Rockford officials? expectations, with 60 percent of total funding raised in eight months. Donors included five veteran organizations, 65 different donors, and five donors who contributed more than once.
? The first significant public gathering at the site will be a combination ribbon-cutting and annual Memorial Day commemoration on May 29, 2023. Attendance is expected to far exceed the 300+ Rockford residents who annually gather.
? A welcome plaque at the site will highlight Rockford?s heritage of military service and respectful remembrance. Visitor education and appreciation is a goal.