The Dream Comes to Life, Honoring Our Vets

Five years of hard work is finally bringing fruition to a dream. Construction is set to take place just after the Memorial Day holiday to officially break ground in Fort Peck. It's been a long road for the board and committee of the Northeast Montana Veterans Park, but after raising over $500,000 from businesses and individuals the first phase of construction will take place this summer, with the hopes of being completed by Veteran's Day this year.

"While this first phase will not complete the project, we feel it provides a solid footprint for future enhancements, pending additional donations and tile sales, which will enable our team to pay as we go," Steve Page, co-chairman of the project said in a statement released to the Courier.

LCS Construction Inc. of Fort Peck was awarded the contract, and the Fort Peck office of Interstate Engineering will oversee construction. The architect for the project is a former Glasgow resident, Don Baker, of DBA Architects located in Oakdale, Minnesota. A construction coordinator from the committee on the project will also coordinate with LCS until the work is completed in the fall.

The site work on the project began in April. Basic landscaping and electrical requirements were prepared for the groundbreaking next week. The committee will continue to look at preparations for future phases in the projects.

Some of the public might wonder where the trees will go at the location. The might even notice that the flag pole has been moved in Fort Peck. The flag pole was moved to the baseball fields and will continue to get community use. A display of several flag poles will represent each branch of the military to properly honor veterans.

Unfortunately the trees won't be saved and they'll be removed during this first phase, but plans to plant new trees that will fit in with the design are in the works. Jed Kirkland and Name, with Interstate Engineering, said that a lot of dirt would have to be moved to level off the location and a ramp would be put in place to make the location easily accessible.

The first phase will also include the Walls of Honor. This is where the tiles being sold to honor loved ones who have served in all branches of the military, currently over 400 tiles have been sold. The tiles are $225 and the names of family or friends will be grouped together to help form the grand entrance. The sales of the tiles go directly back into the project and in the future will help go towards the operations and maintenance of the project.

It's been five years of gathering donations and putting things into place to break ground on the project. Donations have come in from all over the state, and many local Glasgow businesses and private parties have donated towards the cause. The board has always had a goal to not use any government funding for the project.

"We have kept expenses to a bare minimum, paid no salaries or administration fees and worked hard to dedicate all donations to the Memorial," Co-Chairman Tom Markle said in a press release. "To date all funding has been private. A grant writing plan is currently underway which includes public funding alternatives. Funding support has come from each of the nine counties in Northeast Montana."

"It is a privilege to work on a project that honors the courage, sacrifice and duty of thousands of Northeast Montana veterans who stepped up with uncommon patriotism in defense of our freedom whenever they were called to do so," Page said. "We are grateful for the work and encouragement of so many over the years, and to our dedicated volunteers assisting in helping with this project moving along."

For more information on the project or the organization you may visit http://www.veteransmt.org, or call 406-228-2223. Order forms for tiles are available at most banks, the local VFW, or at Legion Clubs. Tile purchases are deductible donations, as Northeast Montana Veterans Memorial Inc. is a 501 c 19 nonprofit organization.