FRESNO (KMJ) — Unanimous support from Fresno City Council backing the location of a new Veterans Memorial in front of Fresno City Hall.
The 7-0 vote Thursday morning will allow construction in front of the grass on the Tulare Street side of the building. The effort was sponsored by Council-members Garry Bredefeld and Esmeralda Soria, as well as Mayor Lee Brand.
“These 277 Fresno veterans that died defending our nation were real people with real lives and real dreams,” said Bredefeld. “They gave the ultimate sacrifice so we can live in freedom.”
The vote was the first part in a two-step process to make the Fresno Veterans Memorial a reality. The second part is to raise approximately $130,000 to build it: $60,000 for excavation and $70,000 for construction.
“I want to encourage folks to be part of this,” said Council-member Esmeralda Soria. “It’s a historic thing that we’re doing here in the City of Fresno and you have an opportunity to make contributions…we will be fundraising the dollars to make sure that this memorial is built.”
Donations need to be made by check and payable to Fresno Revitalization Corporation, with Veterans Memorial Donation in the memo line (donations are tax deductible). They can then be dropped off or mailed to the District 6 office at Fresno City Hall.
Once constructed, there will be 277 names on the memorial.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
