Dawn Ellison, a born and raised Huntley community member, has had family in the military all her life. From her uncles fighting in World War II to her great-grandfather serving during the Civil War, Ellison has always had respect for the armed forces.
Which is why recently Ellison and a group of residents have founded the Huntley Area Veterans Foundation. The foundation was originally created to build a memorial park in honor of veterans and those currently serving.
“Huntley is a nice town but the only thing it doesn’t have is a veterans’ memorial. Most other towns do, and it’s time to recognize [the veterans],” said Ellison.
The group’s first official meeting was in April, which is when they filed for their 501(c)(3) to become an official public charity. They expect to receive approval in the next few weeks, which will allow anyone who donates to get a deduction on their taxes.
“We don’t intend to stop after the memorial,” said Ellison. “We hope to extend other services to the veterans, such as medical assistance and transportation.”
The foundation will meet with the village this month to consider the location of the park. There are four different locations being discussed at the moment, but Ellison hopes that it will be west of Village Hall.
The memorial will have a section for each branch of the military and is estimated to cost $275,000. With such a positive response from the community, it will take about three years to build. They intend to earn the money through grants, fundraisers, donations, and sponsors from local businesses. They will be advertising at the Farmer’s Market, the Fall Festival, and community fundraiser events.
The park will not only include the memorial but also benches, gardens, and walking paths. In front of the memorial will be a four-foot granite wall representing veterans who have sacrificed their lives for their country. Ellison also plans on having a QR code installed. That way iPhones can be used to scan and look up more information about specific branches of the military and those who have served.
“We want people to be able to sit and reflect, show appreciation for what they have, and be able to share their own stories,” said Ellison.
Everything in the park will be funded by donations. The foundation is selling shirts for $20, bricks for the memorial starting at $100, benches for $2,000, and flags that will be posted at each branch’s section for $3,000. Contributors can also request that their intended amount given be put towards a specific part of the monument.
To get involved, call Dawn Ellison at 847-669-3668, donations can be made out to the Huntley Area Veterans Foundation and sent to the PO box 232, Huntley, IL 60142.
“It’s time to recognize our veterans,” said Ellison. “Kids are losing perspective as to what freedom is, why we have it, and what it means.”
