Capital Campaign To Help Support Howard County Veterans Monument

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — An historic project honoring veterans has received an infusion of financial support, which will help it continue to move forward. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball joined the Howard County Veterans Foundation to announce Wednesday that the county would contribute $50,000 toward the final design of the Howard County Veterans Monument and launch a capital campaign.

Ball included the funding in his fiscal year 2022 budget, building upon the $350,000 slated for construction in state bond funding to jumpstart the capital campaign. The historic project will be prominently located at Bailey Park in downtown Columbia on land donated by The Howard Hughes Corporation.

“The Howard County Veterans Monument will provide a meaningful space for reflection, connection and a renewed appreciation for the service and sacrifice of our veterans,” Ball said at a news conference. “As is the true Howard County way, we’ve reached this point due to the many people and organizations working together. The importance of veterans to our community cannot be overstated. This monument will be a landmark for us all to gather and pay tribute to the men and women who served our country.”

The foundation is planning for the design of the monument to be completed by November 2021 and the monument dedication to be completed by Memorial Day 2023. The foundation was founded in 2016 with the intention to design, develop and install a veterans monument to honor Howard County veterans and military families.

"These funds made possible by the state of Maryland and Howard County move us one step closer towards realizing the full beauty of this park and seeing the Howard County Veterans and Military Families Monument become a reality,” Robert Gillette, president of the Howard County Veterans Foundation, said.

Approximately five years ago, the proposal to construct a veterans monument was jumpstarted, aiming to fill a void.

“What guided us was the knowledge that while Howard County has many memorials there was not a veterans monument where all veterans and their families could gather. Now Howard County is at the final stages at having the veterans monument become a reality. For many years into the future, all veterans and their families will come to the Lakefront in downtown Columbia to celebrate the honor of being part of service to America," Robert Berlett of American Legion Post 300 said at a news conference.

Donate by visiting HowardCountyVeterans.org.