OUR VIEW: Let public help pay for veteran’s monument

» Culpeper should build a memorial to honor veterans of World War II and Korea, but with creative financing.

The Town Veterans Recognition Committee is between a rock and a hard place in its plan to erect a monument in Wine Street Memorial Park to honor those who fought in World War II and Korea.

Public sentiment is that such a monument is long overdue. However, the winning design submitted by Boston, Va. freelance cartoonist and illustrator Tad Butler would cost as much as $400,000 to build. In tight economic times that’s hard to swallow.

We commend committee members for having this cost discussion now, while there is still time to make changes, rather than after the plans have been finalized.

So far the veteran’s committee has been looking at two possibilities:

- Build Butler’s monument as he envisions it

- Use a design by Kansas sculptor Jim Brothers for the top half and put it on Butler’s base. That would cost about $85,000.

A completely local design seems preferable. Yet, there is that price differential to consider.

Here’s a possible solution: Perhaps the veteran’s committee could organize a community fundraising project. Even in challenging times, people will contribute to worthwhile efforts and this certainly seems to be one such project.

There are sure to be local people who would be willing to give — even sacrificially — to see this project become a reality. Perhaps all, or at least most, of the funds could be raised to bring Butler’s concept to reality in a true community effort.

Three local men died in the Korean War and 41 Culpeper men paid the ultimate price in World War II. They deserve proper recognition.