FLOSSMOOR, IL — Flossmoor Veterans' Memorial, Inc. (FVM) has launched its long-awaited construction of the Veterans' Wall of Honor. FVM is inviting the community to celebrate an open house to see the construction progress and honor Flossmoor veterans at the Wall of Honor site on Sunday, September 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Park Place, 2523 Flossmoor Road.
"All the pieces are in place," said retired Flossmoor Mayor and FVM Board President Paul Braun. "We launched this effort on Patriots' Day 2021, and we plan to have the Wall of Honor completed this fall. We invite the community to stop by Park Place, to view the construction right next door, and to celebrate FVM's progress."
Refreshments will be served by members of the FVM Steering Committee and corporate Board of Directors. FVM will also have historic photos and artifacts on display, along with family-friendly kids' craft activities. Donor brick sponsorships and a limited supply of FVM-themed merchandise will be available.
Braun notes that FVM has overcome some unusual hurdles to raise the funds needed to construct the Veterans' Wall of Honor, designed by Flossmoor resident Michael Matthys of Linden Group Architects.
"We began our efforts in 2019, just before the pandemic hit," Braun said. "We couldn't have planned for that event, but we used the time to be strategic about what we call 'friendraising.' It was important for us to include as many community partners as possible in our fundraising efforts, which resumed in 2021. This summer's tornadoes tore through the site and caused some significant damage, but we're now going to have to try and reforest the site after construction is complete."
Braun said that residents can track FVM's progress on its website and social media channels, and that FVM hopes to have a ribbon-cutting yet this year.
"Our goal is to have a ceremonial ribbon-cutting by Veterans' Day," he said. "It's an ambitious plan, but this project has been all about ambition from the start. The Veterans' Wall of Honor is going to be the latest exciting addition to Flossmoor, and we are so pleased to have the community's support."
For more information, visit @honoringflossmoorvets on Facebook/Instagram, @FlossmoorVWH on X/Twitter, https://flossmoorvets.square.site on the Web, or flossmoorvets@gmail.com via e-mail.
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