Grand Forks, ND (WDAZ-TV) - For many, the dream of a Veterans Memorial in Grand Forks is one step closer to coming true.
A project five years in the making, and tonight, the ground breaking and fundraising kickoff for the memorial.
The memorial concept will be a 40 foot long black granite wall, with engraved pictures from war. Depending on the layout of the land, there will be five 35 foot tall columns behind the wall representing each branch of service.
Located next to the roundabout at 24th Avenue South and South 34th Street, the co-founders of the memorial say the memorial in Grand Forks is long overdue for veterans.
“I would say 98 percent of the committee on our board are Vietnam veterans, so it means a lot to them and a lot to the other veterans, the older ones and the world war two veterans that before they're gone to actually have a memorial right here they can come out and walk down the sidewalk, walk down the wall and think back like wow,” said John Hanson, Veterans Memorial Park President and Co-Founder.
The event featured music from the City Band, the Grand Forks Air Force Base Honor Guard presentation of colors, and an official ground breaking ceremony. The co-founders say the Veterans Memorial could be done early as next spring.
By Kelsie McMahon
WDAZ
Published July 8, 2015