The Huntley Area Veterans Memorial is nearly complete and a dedication ceremony is planned for Saturday, July 2 at 12 p.m. in the town square. The ceremony will feature a flag raising ceremony, recognition of Gold Star fallen heroes and a message from Major Leonard Williams from the Army National Guard. The monument and pre-purchased engraved bricks should be installed the last part of June in time for the July 2 dedication.
(Rendering provided)
The monument will include black granite slabs recognizing each branch of service, along with a flag for each branch and a POW and Purple Hearts bench.
“Nearly $125,000 has been raised to make this memorial for our local heroes a reality,” stated President Dawn Ellison. “It’s important that we remember those who have served, and are still serving, to protect our freedom and way of life.”
Local veterans are encouraged to include their name on the virtual monument by visiting www.huntleyveterans.org to submit their service information. The online listing will be continually updated to include new veterans as time passes, making this a perpetual monument for the entire community as Huntley continues to grow. Over 800 names have already been collected, along with branch, rank and service years.
The 501(c)(3) organization has been busy spreading news of the memorial project, speaking with community organizations, and participating in community events like farmer’s markets, Huntley Fall Fest, and the Huntley Expo for the past two years.
Ellison added, “There has been a great amount of community support for this project, and we’re very excited to see everything coming together.”
