November 6, 2007

From the Mayor’s Desk

Campbell Veterans Memorial

By Mayor Dan Furtado
Special to the Times

Next Sunday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day. For the past few years, we in Campbell have formally marked the occasion with a brief wreath dedication ceremony at City Hall. This year will be different.

For the past year, the Campbell Veterans Memorial Committee, under the leadership of Jim Free, a veteran, Campbell business man and past citizen-of-the year, has been working on a project to honor all veterans. The committee has met regularly to find a suitable location and discuss the design of the memorial. From the beginning, the group wanted to find a visible location in Campbell that honored all veterans, both living and deceased, of all periods of time in our city’s history.

A few months ago, the committee, with the assistance of city staff, recommended that the location be at the city’s Civic Center Plaza, up from the Orchard City Green, near the city hall building. The location, near an olive tree, will be a part of the Civic Plaza where so many events are held, yet it is a location that will allow for a measure of reflection appropriate to the purpose of the monument. Comments and recommendations were sought both from the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Civic Improvement Commission. The recommended site was approved by the City Council.

Subsequently, the city and committee issued requests for proposal for design of the structure, and has selected an architect. In addition, the committee decided it was time to also formalize its own structure and establish a formal board of directors, as well as establish and apply for a non-profit tax status, so that tax-deductible contributions could be solicited to build the memorial. The plan is to have memorial bricks, so people can honor a veteran with their name at the site if they choose.

Honoring those persons who have served the country over many years is a tradition of several cities and states. We in Campbell will now formally recognize all veterans’ service. Please join us at the Veterans Day Ceremony.