ELLICOTT CITY, MD – At the heart of a poignant Veterans Day tribute, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball committed $1 million to begin the construction of the Howard County Veterans Monument, demonstrating a powerful commitment to our nation's heroes. The historic project will be prominently located at Bailey Park in Downtown Columbia on land donated by The Howard Hughes Corporation. Pictures from the ceremony can be found here, pictures from the parade can be found here.
This significant investment goes beyond mere acknowledgment - it's a pledge to create a sanctuary that embodies our veterans' enduring spirit. 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.
The Veterans Day ceremony united veterans, military families, and Howard County residents, who welcomed Ball's announcement of the Veterans Monument with deep appreciation. Set to begin construction next year, the monument will provide a dedicated space for remembrance and honor the enduring 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 $2.75M fundraising goal.”
Ball 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 into reality. 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.
In closing, Executive Ball emphasized, "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."
For additional information and ongoing updates on the Veterans Monument project, please click here.