Tribute bricks available until Sept. 1
By Holly Neumann
The Manawa Area Veterans Freedom Park is quickly approaching its deadline of Sept. 1 to purchase tribute bricks for their memorial wall.
Bricks can be purchased to honor past, present and future veterans, yourself or friends/family that must have honorable discharge from military.
“You can put anything you like on them,” said Deb Sarna, who is on the park committee. “Obviously the name, but you can add rank, MOS, years, war time, POW, etc.”
Each block, will be engraved on the wall, in honor of any veteran that you choose, and is 9 inches by 4 inches in size and will costs $150.
To date, 230 bricks have already been purchased.
“Sept. 1, 2017 is the deadline,” said Sarna. “After this date the cost will rise to $200 to cover the additional cost of on-site engraving.”
John Smith, who chairs the committee, feels that the tribute blocks may be the most important part of the park.
“Each of those names represents not only a service member but also their family that sacrificed as well,” Smith said. “They are truly the purpose to build the park so that we could pay tribute to our veterans was sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today. Each name on that wall signifies a person who was willing to risk their life so that we can live the life that we do today.”
Anyone wishing to purchase a brick can do so by visiting www.manawaveteranspark.org or you can find a brochure in local businesses downtown in Manawa.
Smith went on to say that the park is progressing rapidly.
“Flagpoles are up, electrical and landscaping next week,” Smith said. “All of the granite is at Mathewson Monuments and the eagle and sphere are also at Mathewson Monuments and etching is in the early stages.”
Approximately $300,000 is still needed to complete the park.
“As a committee we would like the community and surrounding communities who have supported this project. We truly appreciate all the effort and financial support that we’ve been given,” Smith said. “In the end this won’t just be a park to walk through and visit. This is going to be a park that will provide entertainment for families young and old. It will provide new opportunities for families with young children that are currently not available in our area. It’s also going to provide a place where people of all abilities are able to access and enjoy the freedoms that have been given to us through the sacrifices of our soldiers and their families.”