Laela Gaylord and Steve Corry gave the City Council an update of the revised design plan architect Mark Snow has done (pro bono) for the Ivins Cemetery Veterans Memorial on June 29th. They, along with a committee of committed volunteers, have been active since the City approved land at the Ivins cemetery for the memorial in February.
Their goal has been to create a beautiful Memorial to permanently honor veterans. The Memorial will consist of stunning black granite panels with vivid red granite as the backing for the panels. Sponsor/honor bricks will be laid at the foot of the panels honoring veterans. They also plan on installing nine flagpoles with flags for each branch of service, and sponsor/honor benches.
Laela estimates the memorial will cost between $350,000 and $400,000. They will finalize fundraising plans at their July committee meeting. In addition to seeking major donors, they will encourage broad community support by offering honoree bricks for a donation of $300 and honor benches for $3000.
January 30, 2023: Here is an update of the original post from January 21, 2023.
At the January 19th City Council meeting Ivins resident Laela Gaylord gave a presentation proposing the creation of a Veterans Memorial at the Ivins cemetery. At the next meeting the council will decide whether or not to set aside a specific area in our cemetery that our Parks Director recommended, and Laela approves of.
I am writing to update the Council regarding issues discussed at your last meeting.
Benny Sorensen and I visited the Ivins City Cemetery to view the location for the proposed Veterans Memorial. I was very pleased and I believe the area Benny has suggested would be perfect. The area developed would be at street level, whereas now it is a berm, there is ample room for benches, walkways, and the Memorial where many bricks could be sold to decorate the area.
I also visited the Veterans Home in Ivins, and the area they have for their Memorial Park is very nice. It is very nice but in my mind, not what is envisioned as a Veterans Memorial for a Cemetery. The home is for the living, where Veterans who are in need of assistance live, it was not built by Ivins City and doesn’t belong to us. The Ivins City Cemetery belongs to us and Veterans, 136, to date, are buried there. As I mentioned in my presentation, families who visit their loved ones will visit the Cemetery, then walk to the Memorial to see their loved ones honored and sit and enjoy the ambience created by the architect who designs it and those who plan and build it.
I have spoken to an Architect and he has agreed to design the memorial free of charge, donating his time and design to our effort. I have spoken to the St. George Elks Exalted Leader and he said, they would be willing to donate funds to help construct the memorial, but need to see the design first.
In addition, we can write grants, The American Legion, and other national Veterans Organizations may be willing to donate funds. We can sell bricks, as have been done by other cemeteries, as you have seen by the photographs I have included in my proposal.
I again, want to thank Mayor Hart for asking me to make this presentation initially, and then asking me to spearhead the fund raising. No one in Ivins or Washington County know me, a prominent individual is important in fundraising. Maybe even a prominent military, highly decorated person could be the face of our fundraising. But I will be there to assist in any way that I can. This endeavor will not fall by the wayside. Washington County has extensive resources where money could be raised, either by large corporate donations, grants, fund raising events, private donations. There are not many cemeteries without memorials so we might be a wonderful project for them. Possibly the Church Of Latter Day Saints would be willing to assist in a substantial donation. In addition, I am not sure if this is appropriate but we could create a Go-Fund-Me Account. One of the members of the Wreaths Committee has agreed to help set this account up. Should this be approved, I will with work them to have it created.
I have spoken with Benny Sorensen whether he or a designated individual in City Hall would work as the coordinator of the project. They would coordinate construction, ordering supplies, work with contractors, who will build the memorial. Maybe the City’s team could oversee the entire project as it is on city land and any inspections, rules and regulations will need to have Ivins City approval. In the end, the Veterans Memorial will be cared for by the City’s Parks and Recreation team, and the Director is Benny Sorensen.
Thank you for allowing me to make this presentation. As I have mentioned previously, Ivins City Cemetery Veterans Memorial will be a perpetual physical monument, where all can visit, and telling those who visit, these are our heroes, and we honor and salute them. They are not and will never be forgotten.
From an email to the City Council on January 30th from Laela Gaylord
What she needs now are some volunteers to organize the fundraising and figure out design (as long as the council agrees to allocate the land).
Please email me if you would at least consider volunteering for this wonderful project.