Veteran's Memorial Group Hosts
Luncheon, Wednesday

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Members of the Hopkins County Veteran's Memorial Committee hosted a noon luncheon at Holiday Inn Express, Wednesday, inviting community leaders and soliciting support for their project. "We have received our 501 (3)(c) designation and are ready to begin the fundraising initiative to get this memorial built," advised Clayton McGraw, Chairman of the Memorial Committee. "We've applied for grants and will be hosting a number of activities to get the memorial funded!"

Members of the committee informed the group that some 40 grants had already been applied for and an additional 40 would be mailed in the coming weeks. "We're applying for any grant that is available, with the hopes of getting 'lucky' on several of them to help us build this memorial in downtown Sulphur Springs!" stated Grant Chairman Art Romanoff.

 

 

Local Attorney, Eddie Northcutt, was the featured speaker for Wednesday's Veteran's
Memorial Luncheon.

 

Don Rountree, Chairman of the Design Committee, explained the design of the memorial and referred those in attendance to the scale model that has been completed by local model maker, Jerry Lee. The group advised that the total cost of the project will be $1.5 million dollars, but can be done in two phases, if only partial funds are raised. Current funds raised are at $145,000.00, from cookbook sales, t-shirts, donations, and other activities.

Local Attorney, Eddie Northcutt, was the guest speaker for the luncheon, and gave a moving speach about the rights and privileges that we enjoy as Americans, as he used the Bill of Rights, as his basic text. "These men and women that we hope to honor with this memorial, are the ones that have given the sacrifice to protect our freedoms," expressed Northcutt.

Northcutt quoted Abraham Lincoln when he stated, "Those willing to give the last full measure of devotion!"

 

 

During Wednesday's luncheon, McGraw called Walter Grice, retired CEO of Federal Landbank, now Legacy Ag Credit, forward and announced that the group had made a $10,000.00 donation. And, during Wednesday's luncheon, Mrs. Katie Sinclair presented the group with a $1,000.00 donation, as well.

A presentation was made at the luncheon of several levels of sponsorship that local business and civic leaders can participate in, ranging from $1,000.00 to $75,000.00 or more. For more information about making a donation to the project, contact any member of the Veteran's Memorial Committee or attend one of their fundraisers.

The group hopes to begin construction on Veteran's Day, November 11th, 2009.

They also invited everyone to a Memorial Day Service planned for this Friday, May 22nd, at 10:00 a.m., on the Downtown Square in Sulphur Springs.

 

Mrs. Katie Sinclair, left, and Walter Grice, look over the scale model of the Veteran's Memorial and the
Hopkins County Courthouse, designed by local model maker, Jerry Lee.

 

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