MILROY - The Milroy Veterans Memorial Committee, a non-profit organization, comprised of several veterans and non-veterans, will be donating their time and efforts to develop a monument that will be seen by all of those entering the town of Milroy. The project is intended to honor all servicemen, past and present.
"This memorial will honor all veterans of every branch and will be a proud addition to the town and to Mifflin county," said Beth Reed, treasurer of the Milroy Veterans Memorial Committee.
The monument, designed by veteran and graphic designer, Hilton McKnight, will be comprised of several elements. Bronze sculptures have been chosen for the project, with a walkway to surround these works of art. The walkway will be paved with bricks engraved with the names, and dates of service, of loved ones. Flags for every branch of the service will also surround the monument, with a large American flag flying at the entrance. The monument is to sit on the ground between old state Route 322 and Hill Street, on the left, entering into Milroy. Benches around the monument will also be added for reflection, as well as a parking area.
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Submitted graphic
Plans for the Milroy Memorial, pictured above, will be set into motion at a groundbreaking ceremony to take place at 2 p.m. Thursday. The memorial was designed by graphic designer and veteran Hilton McKnight.
The project began when Michael Reed, of Milroy, was mowing grass at the plot in which the monument is to be located. Reed thought the location would be an excellent place for flags, as the wind blows nicely in that area. From this idea, the monument was born. Reed recruited friend Dee Dee Aumiller, also of Milroy, and the two began coming up with ideas for a veteran memorial. However, with neither of the two being veterans, they knew they needed to recruit military members, past and present, to help bring the project together. Reed and Aumiller sat down to hear ideas, and run ideas past, a group of veterans from Mifflin County, who thought the project was fantastic. Though Reed has put many hours of work into the project, nothing is done without approval from the group, which has become the Milroy Veterans Memorial Group. "This is all about them, " Reed said.
Money for the project is being raised through donations of local businesses, as well as through the sale of bricks that pave the walkway. Bricks may be purchased and engraved to honor veteran family members and friends, of the past and present. Bricks can also be purchased to say "IN HONOR OF ALL VETERANS" with family name engraved as well. Two different brick sizes are available, depending on the space needed to appropriately commemorate the veteran. The smaller brick, comprised of three lines, will be priced at $50, and the larger, with up to six lines, will cost $75. "Although it is not necessary, we would be grateful for all donations above the minimum," the group stated.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the monument will take place at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 26th, at the location in Milroy. State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, is expected to be in attendance, as well as two other county commissioners. Everyone is welcome to attend the event.
For more information, or to purchase a brick, contact Beth Reed at 667-6982, or Dee Dee Aumiller at 667-6151. To request a brick order form, email milroyveteransmemorial@embarqmail.com. Plans for the memorial, as well as other pictures and information, can be found at the memorial Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/MilroyVeteransMemorial?ref=ts.
