Veterans Monument Project To Start Next Year With $1M Pledge From Howard County

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — During the Veterans Day ceremony, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball shared that the county would commit $1 million to jumpstart the construction of the Howard County Veterans Monument.

The historic project will be located at Bailey Park in Downtown Columbia on land donated by The Howard Hughes Corporation.

"This significant investment goes beyond mere acknowledgment - it's a pledge to create a sanctuary that embodies our veterans' enduring spirit," Ball said during the Veterans Day ceremony. "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 people who served our country. It will stand as a beacon of remembrance and respect, bridging past and future generations."

Set to begin construction next year, the monument will provide a dedicated space for remembering and honoring the sacrifices of those who have served.

"The Howard County Veterans Foundation is humbled by this announcement of funding for The Howard County Veterans and Military Families Monument," said Robert Gillette of the Veterans Foundation. "Since we launched this effort in 2016, County Executive Ball and his team have been an integral partner in the planning and design of the monument. With this commitment of funding from the county, combined with commitments from the state of Maryland and other private donors; we are now within striking distance of achieving our $2.75 million fundraising goal.”

The county provided $50,000 in fiscal year 2021 to the Veterans Foundation for the final design and provided an additional $220,000 to bring the vision of the monument to fruition.

"Our veterans are the backbone of our nation's freedom, and it is our collective duty to honor their legacy with actions that resonate for years to come," Ball said during the ceremony.