Update: Seventh Street War Memorial Project on Schedule

Much progress has been made at the relocated veterans memorial on Seventh Street, which is scheduled for completion this Memorial Day.

The village so far has collected $4,505 in donations to help offset the cost of the approximate $20,000 project, according to village clerk Brian Ridgway. Donations are still welcome; those wishing to donate can make checks payable to the "Inc. Village of Garden City" with "war memorial fund" in the subject line.

Garden City's American Legion Post No. 265 is also collecting donations and has just begun to circulate flyers to bring attention to the new war memorial, commander John Donovan told Patch. "The American Legion has raised $3,910 to date, and we expect more contributions," he said.

The new site is located approximately 300 feet west of the current memorial, at the Seventh Street gazebo, and will include four plaques honoring those residents who served the country during World War I, the Korean War, Vietnam and Iraq/Afghanistan, two plaques celebrating Garden City's Medal of Honor winners and a "dedication" plaque. The World War II plaque currently located at the Garden City Library is being cleaned up and will become the eighth plaque at the site, according to Ridgway.

Each plaque will measure 2 feet by 1 foot six inches in size. Landscaping, lighting, installation and architectural services will be performed by village personnel.

The proposal to upgrade, consolidate and relocate the existing memorial first came before the village board in January 2010. Vietnam veteran Cyril Smith of Fourth Street, who served (1968-69) with the 82nd Airborne Division, made the suggestion to further commemorate those village residents that paid the ultimate sacrifice during wartime.