American Legion raising funds for WWII Memorial

By J.D. Sumner (2013)
j.d.sumner@albanyherald.com

As of Thursday, May 3, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Albany Herald

ALBANY — Local veterans, led by American Legion Post 30 and the Southwest Georgia Veterans Coalition, have begun raising money to fund a monument to honor those who served during World War II.

Charles Nicholson, a spokesperson for the veterans coalition, told city commissioners Tuesday that only 1.5 million veterans who fought in World War II, of the 17 million total, are still alive and are dying at a rate of about 1,000 per day.

"We have the bridge, which was dedicated for World War I vets, we have a granite monument for Vietnam...we'd like to erect a memorial to World War II (veterans)," Nicholson said.

Nicholson told commissioners, who would have to approve the request because the group wants to put the monument on public park grounds, that the anticipated costs of the monument will be between $25,000 and $30,000 and that they had already raised $1,000 towards that goal.

The group is trying to get the memorial built before November 11 -- Veterans Day -- so it can be unveiled.

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