My name is Major Bob Diggs Brown (ret), and while I served on the Fort Collins, Colorado, City Council, I attended the funeral of Sgt. Nick Walsh, the son of a local family and a U.S. Marine who was KIA’d during the battle of Fallujah in 2007. Looking around the congregation, I noticed all the service members in attendance and thought about how these individuals would be recognized for their service and sacrifices for the country. Sgt. Walsh would be listed at the memorial in Edora Park, but what about those who remained?
My solution was to build a memorial to honor the service and sacrifice of those who have served our country in the military. I approached the council and received their approval to develop three acres of land at the newest city park.
I created a nonprofit, 501c3, and gathered a team of individuals who would support the mission. $1,000,000 would need to be raised for the design and construction before ground could be broken. The plaza was officially opened on Veterans Day, 2011.
Every year over the Memorial Day weekend, the Plaza hosts a major event paying homage to a different generation of veterans. The Plaza is home to the Victory Garden where soils from over 200 American battlefields, military installations, and cemeteries have been placed with loving care. There is a monitor which scrolls the names of nominated veterans, currently over 8,000 are listed.
Beyond educating the public and honoring those who serve, the Plaza maintains a Vet-to-Vet Fund, which aids our veterans in need. This could be anything from helping make rent to seeking professional help. One third of all donations go to this fund.
I credit my team for the success of the Plaza. Many of the original committee members still volunteer their time and efforts to honor our veterans, and new volunteers have joined us in our mission. The motto of the Veterans Plaza is: “To Honor, Educate, and Serve.” That is the mission, and it is out of great respect for our veterans that the Plaza exists.
My solution was to build a memorial to honor the service and sacrifice of those who have served our country in the military. I approached the council and received their approval to develop three acres of land at the newest city park.
I created a nonprofit, 501c3, and gathered a team of individuals who would support the mission. $1,000,000 would need to be raised for the design and construction before ground could be broken. The plaza was officially opened on Veterans Day, 2011.
Every year over the Memorial Day weekend, the Plaza hosts a major event paying homage to a different generation of veterans. The Plaza is home to the Victory Garden where soils from over 200 American battlefields, military installations, and cemeteries have been placed with loving care. There is a monitor which scrolls the names of nominated veterans, currently over 8,000 are listed.
Beyond educating the public and honoring those who serve, the Plaza maintains a Vet-to-Vet Fund, which aids our veterans in need. This could be anything from helping make rent to seeking professional help. One third of all donations go to this fund.
I credit my team for the success of the Plaza. Many of the original committee members still volunteer their time and efforts to honor our veterans, and new volunteers have joined us in our mission. The motto of the Veterans Plaza is: “To Honor, Educate, and Serve.” That is the mission, and it is out of great respect for our veterans that the Plaza exists.