The Active Age
AUGUSTA — A proposed new veterans memorial has found a home. Now supporters are trying to raise the rest of the money needed to build it.
The idea for the monument was suggested to Augusta’s Leonard Whitehill American Legion Post 189 by Linda McBride, the daughter of a deceased member. Augusta has not had a veteran’s memorial for several years. The post asked that the memorial be built in conjunction with ongoing work for improvements downtown, and the City Council agreed. The city also decided to donate the concrete work needed for the project, estimated to cost about $17,000.
The Park Advisory Board approved designs for the monument, pictured at right, by local architect Bill Morrison. It will be incorporated into the city’s Rails to Trails Project. It’s believed that the monument will be the first anywhere with a section honoring the Space Force, a new branch of the military formed under former President Trump.
On City Manager Josh Shaw’s suggestion, the city also donated $5,500 from the Augusta Lion’s Club fireworks sale. Community National Bank has agreed to pay for landscaping around the memorial.
Don Durflinger, commander of the Legion post, said about $25,000 more is needed. A GoFundMe site for the project has been set up at https://www.gofundme.com/f/augusta-ks-downtown-veterans-memorial; or visit GoFundMe.com and search Augusta KS Downtown Veterans Memorial.
