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Community News
Baltimore County Veteran Suicide Coalition, Meets 4th Thursday
Women Veterans United Committee, Inc. Annual Baby Shower
Walk in Their Footsteps New Boot/Shoe collection for Homeless Veterans
Howard County Veterans Foundation unveils monument design
COLUMBIA, Md. — The Howard County Veterans Foundation unveiled the design of the Howard County Veterans and Military Families Monument planned for the lakefront in downtown Columbia. The monument design was introduced at a public presentation June 7 at the Vivian C. “Millie” Bailey Park, where the monument will stand.
[High-resolution JPG renderings of the monument]
“We’re building a monument that recognizes, preserves and pays tribute to the service and sacrifice of veterans and military families in Howard County and deepens the public’s appreciation of the courage, conviction and sacrifice made by them in support of our community and nation,” said Robert Gillette, president of the Howard County Veterans Foundation. “We hope everyone who visits the monument will leave with a renewed sense of gratitude at the profound commitment of military service.”
The monument will cover 25,000 square feet and feature a sculpture made of three symbolic stars. The base star will represent the greater community who support the military and their families when someone is deployed. The blue star commemorates military service members and families. A hollow gold star embedded in the blue star recognizes the hole left with the loss of service members who have died in the line of duty.
A reflecting pond and bench will circle the sculpture and complete the monument, which will be engraved with words and quotes about the virtues of service, freedom and democracy.
The Howard County Veterans Foundation is raising $2.75 million to build and maintain the monument. Maryland grants totaling $1.5 million, Howard County grants totaling $295,000 and private donations totaling $51,000 comprise the initial funding.
“Howard County is home to more than 20,000 veterans who have served our country with conviction and courage. As a nation, we owe a debt of gratitude to the countless servicemembers who have dedicated their lives to protect and defend our country,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball.
“As the proud son and grandson of veterans, I know the importance of paying our respect and gratitude to these heroes firsthand. We are honored to partner with the Veterans Foundation and the state of Maryland to support the design and construction of a Veterans and Military Families Monument in downtown Columbia. This meaningful and powerful monument will serve as a place of recognition, remembrance and reflection for the many veterans and military families who have sacrificed in service to our country.”
According to the Howard County Office of Veterans and Military Families, Howard County’s population includes more than 14,000 residents commuting to jobs at Fort George G. Meade and more than 1,000 students in the county’s public schools who have a parent on active duty.
Artist Larry Kirkland designed the monument. He has created large-scale environmental installations at hospitals, medical schools, universities and transit centers throughout the world, including the Southwestern Pennsylvania World War II Memorial, Sarasota National Cemetery and the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, D.C. He has been working on the Howard County Veterans and Military Families Monument since 2017.
“We’ve spent over five years carefully considering and designing every detail of the veterans monument to properly pay tribute to our veterans and families,” Gillette said. “We want it to be a place for the community to gather on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day and throughout the year to celebrate the freedoms and privileges our veterans swore an oath to protect.”
The Howard County Veterans Foundation honors the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families who live, work or play in Howard County. The foundation holds events dedicated to veterans issues and is developing the Howard County Veterans and Military Families Monument. (HowardCountyVeterans.org)
Seema Reza, CEO and Ashy Palliparambil, Director of Programs at Community Building Art Works (CBAW) provided a workshop at the event honoring Women Veterans. Here are more opportunities to participate in CBAW activities:
Glowing in the Bright - June 21st (VIRTUAL)
Join CBAW for Glowing in the Bright, a summer reading to celebrate our community of authors Sarah Herrin, Amber Flame, Sunu Chandy, Arthur Kayzakian and Laura Joyce-Hubbard as they read from their new published works. Hosted by Hari Alluri.
Stay after the reading for Open Studio with Veteran and Artist, Shaun Smith. Bring anything you want to work on, in any medium, and create art with our community.
More Than One Story - Next Virtual Orientation July 11th!
Our monthly program for Women and Non-Binary Military has begun, but if you are still interested in participating, it's not too late. Interested individuals must attend an upcoming orientation to participate. Visit www.cbaw.org/mtos for more details.
Visit www.cbaw.org to learn more about Community Building Art Works. For more information, email info@cbaw.org. Follow us on social media
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News from Project Opportunity
Project Opportunity, which provides FREE entrepreneur training for Veterans has opened enrollment for the Fall session:
Veteran Training on Eastern Shore. Flier
Spouses of Veterans, Active Duty and Guard/Reserve Personnel Training, Takoma Park
Community Calendar
June 16, 2023 - TODAY
DC Vet Center Open House, Washington, DC
June 17, 2023
Women's Veterans Day, American Legion Post 66, Bowie, hosted by the Mental Hope Foundation, Inc.
Mindfulness with Art, Oxon Hill, sponsored by Women Veterans United Committee, Inc.
June 20, 2023
Armed Services Blood Program Blood Drive, Baltimore Federal Bldg.
June 21, 2023
Free Yoga Class for Emergency Responders/Military Personnel, Chesapeake College
June 24, 2023
Military Family Fun Day, Boyds, RSVP using QR code in linked flier
June 27, 2023
Strategies for Digital Marketing, Virtual
June 29, 2023
Leveraging Your Certifications, Virtual
Women Veterans Meet & Greet, LaPlata
June 30, 2023
Fort George G. Meade Red, White & Blue Celebration
July 12, 2023
Veteran Job Fair, Baltimore
July 14, 2023
Baltimore Station Fundraiser: Crab Feast & Bull Roast, Baltimore
July 16, 2023
Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) Day of Affirmation, Washington, DC
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