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Nassau County approves $5,000 sponsorship for Vietnam Voices traveling memorial
Summary
The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 Feb. 10 to authorize $5,000 in tourist development tax funds to sponsor the Vietnam Voices Traveling Memorial Monument in Hilliard, authorizing Chair to sign contract CM3825.
The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 on Feb. 10 to authorize a $5,000 sponsorship from tourist development tax revenues to help the town of Hilliard host the Vietnam Voices Traveling Memorial Monument in April 2025, officials said.
County staff told commissioners the request came through the Tourism Development Council and would fund promotion and hosting of a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall scheduled to be displayed in Nassau County from April 17 to April 21 at the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds. The board also authorized the chair to sign contract number CM3825, a sponsorship agreement with the town of Hilliard.
Why it matters: The county is using tourist development tax revenue to underwrite local events that officials say draw visitors and highlight veterans’ history. Sponsorship of the traveling memorial connects a county tourism funding decision to a community commemorative event and to promotional activity for Hilliard and the county fairgrounds.
Tourism staff described the exhibit as a mobile memorial that has been shown in other communities. "The request is a $5,000 sponsorship to the town of Hilliard. This is for promoting conducting the Vietnam Voices traveling memorial monument," staff said during the Feb. 10 meeting. "It's basically a traveling replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall," the staff member added.
Commissioner Lee McCullough, who asked to move the item from consent to new business to highlight it publicly, said the town had worked “so hard” to bring the display to Nassau County and that the fairgrounds would be one of the stops. "It will be at the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds," McCullough said.
The motion to approve the sponsorship was made by Commissioner McCullough and seconded by Commissioner Martin. The board vote was recorded as 5 ayes, 0 nays. The county did not specify further details of the promotional plan in the meeting packet; staff indicated the Tourism Development Council reviewed the request prior to the Commission vote.
The county will execute contract CM3825 with the town of Hilliard to complete the sponsorship arrangement. Commissioners said they expect additional outreach and community information about the event in the weeks before the April display.
