Memorial in Placerville clears its final hurdle as county comes to the rescue.

By Cathy Locke -- Bee Staff Writer

Veterans Day came a couple of weeks early for El Dorado County residents working to build a monument and memorial honoring the nation and those who have served in the armed forces.

In a move that put a five-year fundraising effort over the top, the county Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to cover costs for wheelchair-accessible walkways and the memorial wall, and to oversee construction of the project.

Richard Buchanan, a Vietnam veteran and spokesman for Friends of the El Dorado County Veterans Memorial, said in an interview Wednesday. He expects to see his vision realized by this time next year.

The board, at Supervisor Helen Baumann's request, designated the memorial as a county project and directed the General Services Department to assign a project manager to work with veterans representatives.

Board members assured veterans that they would adhere to Placerville architect Peter Wolfe's design and retain Wolfe as the architect of record.

The memorial will occupy a knoll at the county government center in Placerville, overlooking Ray Lawyer Drive and Highway 50 and with of view of the Sierra.

Baumann noted that El Dorado County is home to a large number of veterans, as well as men and women on active duty. "We all share a common goal and a level of frustration," she said, adding ... Click Here for More

The El Dorado County Veterans Memorial, dedicated to all veterans, past, present, and future, has been conceived and designed to honor veterans and their sacrifices. The Memorial's construction will begin as soon as funding is complete. The memorial is being funded entirely through the generous donations of private individuals like yourself. You can show your support by:

1) Making a Direct Donation, or

2) Purchasing a commemorative brick:

All proceeds from the sale of commemorative bricks will be used for the cost of constructing the Memorial. All donations are tax deductible. The different levels of support are as follows:

Sponsor: The 4x8 bricks (3 lines, 14 characters per line) cost $100.00 each, and may be purchased for:

a) Veterans, living or deceased.
b) Units, Divisions, Squadrons, Ships, Companies, Platoons, etc.
c) To commemorate a specific date/battle

Donor: The 8x8 bricks (3 to 5 lines, 14 characters per line), cost $350.00 and may be purchased for a, b, c in the above. In addition, businesses may purchase In Memory Of (for someone who's deceased), In Honor Of (for someone who's still living), or In Appreciation commemoratives. 8x8 bricks will be limited to 35 bricks.

A beautiful bench: (limit 8) may be purchased which would have an appropriate bronze plaque with donor information, for $3,500.00

Flagpoles: Cost is $7,000.00 each with an appropriate bronze plaque at the base with donor information.

Patron: Patrons will be recognized on a bronze plaque in a prominent location on the memorial. A maximum of 10 Patrons will be accepted, first-come first-serve. Patrons can be businesses, or individuals. The Patron level donation is $3,000

Mail Tax-Deductible Donations to:
Friends of the El Dorado County Veterans Memorial
(Care of) El Dorado Community Foundation
P.O. Box 1388
Placerville, CA 95667
Donation Form[.pdf] (Print and Mail to address above)

For information, or for Questions, or Comments please contact:
Jim Denmark: (530) 676-0757, or 626-7762
"Doc" League: (530) 647-9429
Major General John Collens: (530)677-2100
Don Donaldson: (530) 644-7936
Richard W. Buchanan NC: (530) 626-7762
Peter Wolfe, Architect: (530) 626-9227
Chaplain Lt. Col Tim Thompson USA (Ret): (530) 626-2756
Manuel Garcia, Pearl Harbor Survivors: (916) 383-6693
Veterans Coordinating Council
Veterans Affairs Commission

Other Memorials in El Dorado County
Name Location
American Legion Building

2748 Highway 50, South Lake Tahoe

Veterans Foreign Wars Building Main Street, Georgetown
Veterans Memorial Building 130 Placerville Drive, Placerville
Vietnam Veterans Bridge Highway 50, Placerville

 

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