Fundraiser generates over $20,000 for proposed veterans memorial

A kickoff fundraiser for a veterans memorial in Valley County brought in more than $20,000 Dec. 28.  The event was a roast beef dinner at St. Raphael's Parish Center. Attendees were only asked to make a donation for the proposed memorial.

Capt. Jonathan Wiens and 1st Lt. Aaron Flint, who both have roots in Glasgow, spoke during the program. The next morning Flint, who hosts "Voices of Montana," a popular state-wide radio talk show on the Northern Broadcasting System, interviewed Wiens about his tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and about the memorial. Wiens is stationed at Ft. Benning, Ga. Flint, a member of the Montana Army National Guard, is also a veteran of tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Veterans Memorial Committee held an organizational meeting on Jan. 9 at VFW Post 3107. Steve Page was elected chairman, Art Widhalm is recording secretary, and Willie Zeller and Bill Sugg are co-treasurers. Page appointed a fundraising committee: Lee Murch, Earl Fuhrman and Tracy Stone.

The committee is looking for ideas from the public not only for a design but for someone to create a conceptional drawing of the memorial. Anyone who has seen a veterans memorial that deeply impressed them, or who has pictures of one, is invited to contact the VFW. The committee needs to have a design to estimate the cost of the project and the fundraising they will need to do. The committee states that this is to be a Valley County project and all ideas are welcome.

Page has met with the Glasgow Kiwanis Club and they have pledged their support and offered to help wherever they can.

The next meeting of the Veterans Memorial Committee will be Saturday, Feb. 6, at 2 p.m. at the VFW. The meeting is open to the public.