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Veterans committee presents Honor Wall renderings and fundraising plan; seeks sponsors
Summary
The veterans committee showed renderings for a Veterans Honor Wall at the Mary Collins Community Center, reported approximately $100,000 pledged toward an estimated $380,000 project and began outreach to federal and state offices for additional funding. Committee leaders also reported recent youth-focused events and a growing veterans parade.
The veterans committee presented renderings and a phased fundraising plan for a Veterans Honor Wall to be sited near the Mary Collins Community Center parking area. The committee reported preliminary private fundraising of about $100,000 and estimated the project cost at roughly $380,000; the committee said it will pursue county, state and federal funding and private sponsorships to cover the balance.
Committee members described the planned design as a landscaped memorial with engraved name panels for qualifying Miami Lakes residents who served in the armed forces. The committee said names will be limited to individuals who meet residency criteria established for inclusion. "We're gonna have each branch of service listed out, and then we're gonna have the name of the service member, their rank, and, also, if they served in any conflicts," a veterans committee representative said in the meeting.
Veterans committee leaders said they have prepared a sponsorship and briefing package to solicit corporate and philanthropic donors and have already contacted state and federal representatives to pursue appropriations or grants. The committee asked other advisory committees to refer potential sponsors and supporters for construction-phase fundraising and suggested listing major donors on a dedication plaque.
The veterans committee also reported recent community activities: a youth fishing event for unaccompanied minors, and a veterans parade that the committee said continues to grow in participation. Committee members said the next phase will include design permitting, further fundraising and coordination with the town's grants manager and public works staff for permitting and installation.
Committee members asked staff to connect them with the town's grants manager to pursue applicable grant opportunities and agreed to prepare a public-facing sponsorship packet.
