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Main Street presents VFW with funding assistance for Vet wall
David Conrad, a member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 2506, can‚t help but smile as he receives a check for $8, 206 from the Carbondale Main Street to assist in the funding of the Veterans Memorial Wall Wednesday afternoon. The memorial will be located in the Town Square and construction is scheduled to start in the spring.
Carbondale veterans received not only a boost in funding Wednesday afternoon but also recognition from the city.
Carbondale Main Street presented the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2506 with a check in the amount of $8,206 to assist in the funding of the Veterans Memorial Wall.
"The memorial wall will be a constant and enduring reminder of what our veterans have given," said Craig Reeves, Main Street director, during the presentation.
"If Carbondale is the capital of Southern Illinois, then the town square is the center of the capital," he said.
Reeves said more than 20,000 drivers would see the future memorial everyday as they drive past town square.
VFW Commander Harry Schauwecker thanked Main Street for the financial assistance.
"We are really proud to be part of Town Square," Schauwecker said. "We are really excited to see the area grow."
On Oct. 21, the Carbondale City Council unanimously approved the plans for the 18-foot-wide and 3 1/2-foot-tall Veterans Memorial Plaza wall. Two weeks later, the Carbondale City Council postponed the VFW's pre-application request until all funding options were exhausted with Main Street.
The executive and full Main Street boards met in November to discuss the funding. On Nov. 19, Main Street approved the requested $8,206 for the Veteran's Plaza Wall.
The remainder of the funds needed to complete the construction of the wall and to make the wall's six plaques will be raised by VFW and through community contributions.
City Manager Jeff Doherty said he was pleased to see the VFW receive the necessary funding for the creation of the veteran's wall. Doherty and the city's engineering department worked with the VFW to coordinate the location of the wall as well as to coordinate utilities and landscaping.
Doherty said the creation of the wall would bring attention to the existing VFW memorial in the town square.
Schauwecker said construction of the wall will begin after a final approval from the city. Depending on weather conditions, the project is scheduled to begin in the spring.
