Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Veterans Memorial topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Box Elder County approves Gold Star Families memorial plaza at courthouse
Summary
Commissioners approved an agreement with the Major Brent Taylor Leadership Legacy Foundation to install a granite Gold Star Families Memorial and plaza at the Box Elder County Courthouse; the monument is planned for October with a Veterans Day dedication.
The Box Elder County Commission unanimously approved Agreement #26-09 on March 25 to host a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument and plaza at the historic courthouse in Brigham City.
Commissioner Lee Perry introduced the agreement with the Major Brent Taylor Leadership Legacy Foundation, which coordinates with the Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation’s national memorial program. The agreement allows the foundation and its construction partner to lead fundraising, procurement and installation; the parties agreed the county will grant temporary site access during construction and accept ownership and maintenance responsibility after formal acceptance.
Gold Star widow Jenny Taylor described the monument during the meeting, saying it is an honor for families who lost loved ones in military service and that the memorial will be made of granite without individual names, "honoring all of the loved ones' service." She said the monument recognizes “the price of freedom.” Commissioners approved the agreement on a unanimous roll call vote.
Project details in the memorandum of understanding include: - Project site: county-owned property adjacent to the historic Box Elder County Courthouse at 1 South Main Street, Brigham City. - Construction partners: the Woody Williams Foundation will provide monument panels; Whitaker Construction is identified in the MOU as the primary construction partner. The County will review and approve final site design. - Funding: MBTF will secure private donations; the County Tourism Board awarded a $20,000 grant to the project; no additional county funds are required under the MOU. - Schedule in the MOU: groundwork and foundation are anticipated in May 2026, monument installation in October 2026, and a public dedication tied to Veterans Day 2026.
Why it matters: Commissioners said the memorial is meant to provide a permanent public recognition of families who lost service members. The MOU transfers ownership and maintenance responsibility to the county after formal acceptance, while preserving the foundation’s role in commemorative programming.
Votes and approvals: Agreement #26-09 was approved unanimously (Chairman Tyler Vincent, Commissioner Boyd Bingham, Commissioner Lee Perry voted yea). The commission authorized the MOU as presented with the expectation of final design review by county staff.
The monument schedule and funding plan are in the MOU; county staff will coordinate final site layout and construction oversight after MBTF secures contractors and donations.
