Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
An artist's rendition of the proposed windbreaks at the Veterans Cemetery at Alliance
A regional fund raising effort is currently underway to make services at the Nebraska State Veterans Cemetery in Alliance more comfortable for those participating in services for loved ones.
At last count, 272 families have received free burial services at Nebraska's state veteran cemetery in Alliance since it opened in January 2011. Often, attendees to the enhanced military memorial ceremonies will think, say, or hear "I have never seen anyone receive this much honor."
Unfortunately, for too many, the honor is overshadowed by the western Nebraska weather. The facility lacks an enclosed shelter for winter services. Nebraska winds also can play havoc on services any time of year.
To offer a remedy, the Veterans State Cemetery at Alliance Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit group, has undertaken a project to build a windbreak at the committal shelter. Over the last 7 years, foundation board directors, from throughout western Nebraska, have secured funds to help with several cemetery additions, programs, and advertisement. Through a partnership with Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs and the State Building Division, they have committed to raising monies needed to build a wind break, that will be effective and aesthetically pleasing, with minimal perpetual maintenance costs.
Schemmer Associates, the architecture and engineering firm involved with the construction of the cemetery, used historical winter wind-speed data to create a design that was approved at the Foundation's last quarterly board meeting. To date, $14,000.00 has been raised toward the total construction costs estimate of $113,861.00.
It is anticipated that another $14,000.00 will be raised at the second annual Veterans Memorial Golf Tournament, scheduled for Saturday May 26, 2018, at Skyview Golf Course in Alliance.
Foundation President Ron Winchell, a retired Colonel, said "If the annual golf tournaments continue to be successful, we can start construction in 8 years. Perhaps, there are grants or other resources that could help us reduce that time frame. We are in search mode right now to find a way to make this happen a lot sooner."
Donations for the wind break project and can be made on the Foundation's website at http://www.vscaf.org. Checks can be mailed to Veterans State Cemetery at Alliance Foundation, P.O. Box 902, Alliance, NE 69301. For more information contact Ron Winchell at 308-631-8787 or Donation Chairman Dr. D.N. "Cork" Taylor Jr., at 308-760-1523.
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