Republican Women Donate to GT Veterans Memorial

Donations are still being made to the Grand Terrace Veterans Wall of Freedom monument that is slated to be erected in Pico Park. On July 26 the Grand Terrace Republican Women’s Club donated an additional $100 to the project. Republican Women’s Club members including President April Haverty, first Vice President Thelma Winkler-Beach, Second Vice President Lisa Boon and Secretary Liz Larkin met Veterans Wall of Freedom Committee member Don Larkin on behalf of the Foundation of Grand Terrace at the City News Group office, where Larkin accepted the donation. “We greatly appreciate the support of the Grand Terrace Republican Women’s club,” Larkin said. “This is one more step toward making the Veterans Wall of Freedom a reality.” With many of the women having relatives who have served in the armed forces, the donation exemplified the support of the Grand Terrace Republican Women Club for veterans and the project, Haverty shared. “This is a wonderful project for the community. Honoring veterans is something we should have done a long time ago,” said Haverty. Boon said it made her “proud to be an American,” and Winkler-Beach said she was “proud to be a part of this activity.” The Grand Terrace Republican Women’s Club hopes to continue donating to the project in the future, Haverty noted, and said that future club fundraisers can help contribute to the cause. The Veteran’s Wall of Freedom Committee is a part of the Foundation of Grand Terrace. Currently donations are still being sought to raise funds to begin construction on the monument. The monument will spell out the word “Freedom” in large block letters, each 6 feet high and 3 feet wide. The memorial will also be surrounded by seven flags, representing the five branches of the military, the POW/MIA flag, and the United States Flag in the middle. When completed, the memorial is expected to span nearly 60 feet. On each letter will be plaques with the name and rank of a veteran, along with the branch and conflict in which they served. Plaques are $100 each, and may be purchased for any veteran anywhere in the United States. “We want to stress that this is not solely a Grand Terrace veterans' wall, but rather a memorial honoring all veterans that just happens to be in Grand Terrace,” said Larkin.