JERSEY: Grafton making progress on new veteran memorial
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By Steven Spencer
The Grafton Veteran’s Memorial Commission is wasting no time in getting to work on the city’s future veteran memorial.
At their May meeting the commission received updates on their 501(3)(c) status and approved their Board of Directors as required for the 501 status.
Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow also provided information about the location of the area memorial.
Morrow said that after viewing a few locations the Grafton Visitor Center seems to be the best spot.
After discussing the possibilities of placing the memorial on the left or the right of the visitor center, it was decided to move forward with the location to the right of the visitor center.
Jamie Henderson, the architect who has been involved with the project, said that the location would provide “the greatest flexibility and greater opportunities for the overall project.”
The location would allow for more visibility and functionality of the site Henderson said while noting it would also allow for more parking and space to be able to park and turn around a bus.
With a memorial project also in the works in Alton, Mayor Morrow said it would be excellent bookends for the Great River Road.
“Everybody I talk to is excited about this,” Mayor Morrow said. “This has implications, especially with tying in with Alton, to be a national draw. Now speaking as a mayor, what we want to do for Grafton is increase our tourism. When we look at something like this, the biggest thing we say is Monday through Thursday, we don’t have anybody coming up here, and the weekends we’re busy. This is going to be able to draw bus tour groups, motorcycle groups will be coming up, veteran groups will be coming up.”
Before closing the meeting the commission announced their next meeting for Wednesday, July 12, at 10 a.m.
“This is just going to be good news for Grafton,” Mayor Morrow said. “Something we’re all going to be proud of.”
