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Veterans group unveils 27‑foot memorial plan, seeks $700,000 in private donations
Summary
A local veterans association presented a 27‑foot lighted memorial design to Villa Rica council and said it needs about $700,000 — funded privately — for construction and site work, with the group aiming for a visible dedication around July 4, 2026.
General Wilhelm, speaking for a community veterans association, presented a design for a downtown veterans memorial and asked the city council to note the group’s fundraising goal and construction plan. “We envision that this may be as much as $700,000,” he said, describing a lighted monument that would stand roughly 27 feet high and include an ornamental landing eagle as a separate element.
The association said the city granted a 20‑year lease on a small parcel near the mill for the project and that the design favors vertical construction because the site footprint is limited. Wilhelm outlined two main cost components: the monument itself (he estimated more than $100,000) and extensive site preparation — grading, a retaining wall and ornamental fencing — and said those site costs are roughly equivalent to the monument cost. He said the monument will be Georgia granite and that local volunteers and pro bono technical help have reduced some expenses.
Council members asked about schedule and maintenance. Wilhelm said the group hopes to have a visible dedication by July 4, 2026, but that the work may be phased depending on fundraising. Jennifer Hullman (city staff) and others clarified that the lease includes maintenance terms and that city crews would handle landscaping that follows construction, consistent with the lease and staff conversations.
The presenters said they plan to solicit private donations from corporations and residents, operate as a 501(c)(3) (the transcript: the organization said it is a 501c3 and a 509A2), and maintain a public information page (vrveterans.org) and a post‑office box for contributions. They emphasized they are not asking for direct city capital funding but asked for the council’s continued support on permitting, lease administration and publicity. Council members praised the design and the volunteer effort and encouraged staff to work with the group on logistics.
The presentation ended with staff and council agreeing to keep the association informed of permitting and lease details; no formal vote on funding or approvals was taken at the work session.
