Back in 1967, when the Veterans Memorial
Building was built, the local area Veteran
Organizations affirmed their dedication to
the City of Burlington and to Community
Service. The Memorial Building was built not
only as a fitting and lasting tribute to
Burlington's service personnel, but also as
an active community center. However, time
has taken its toll on the Memorial Building.
As our City has grown and prospered the need
for a larger community center has also
grown. Unfortunately, the Veterans Memorial
Building has not been a part of this growth,
and has become too small and outdated. It
can no longer support our City's demands. It
is also painfully clear that as a "Living
Memorial" to our Veterans, the building is
falling far short of the debt that we owe
them, and the recognition that they are due.
One and a half years ago the Veterans saw
this need and started a plan to remodel the
Veterans Memorial Building. Shortly, into
this planning stage, it became clear that
the Veterans would not be able to do the
project by themselves. They issued a call
for help and the Burlington Community Fund,
Ltd. was formed. This group and the Veterans
joined forces to tackle the huge problem of
remodeling and expanding the building. The
new building will be known as Veterans
Terrace at Echo Park.
What is Veteran's Terrace at Echo Park? It
is to be a living memorial to the Burlington
area Veterans, who have given so much to us
and our Country. It is to be a useful,
working memorial dedicated to those area men
and women who served their country when
called upon - and for those who died for it
as well.
Veterans Terrace at Echo Park is to be not
only a fitting and lasting tribute to
Burlington's service personnel, but it is
also to be an active community center which
will once again fill a need in our City for
this type of facility.
The planning process covered many areas and
exposed many problems that had to be
overcome before ground could be broken to
begin construction. There were permits to be
obtained from the Department of Natural
Resources and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, funds to be raised,
material to be gathered and volunteers to be
collected. Legal problems also surfaced that
needed to be cleared up.
Now the Veterans Organizations have once
again shown just how committed and dedicated
they are to this project, and have turned
the Veterans Memorial Building over to the
City. This act will allow the Veterans
Organizations to return to their common and
basic objective of Community Service,
through fund raising for this building and
serving our community.
In accepting the Veterans Memorial Building,
I have made the following promises to the
Veterans Organizations:
1. The City will guarantee the Veterans
Groups will have access to the building in
perpetuity. This would mean
a place to hold their regular
meetings, and to hold fundraisers, as
appropriate, free of charge. The
Veterans will
be guaranteed space for storage
and display of their items.
2. The Veterans will not pay any
utility or building maintenance costs
for the use of the building.
3. The Veterans will not be charged
any rent.
4. The Veterans Building Board will
select one member to serve on the
Burlington Community Fund Board.
5. The Burlington Community Fund
Board will guarantee that any revenue
generated from the facility will be
returned to the community.
Specifically the Burlington Community
Fund Board will provide funding
to
various service clubs, groups
and other community charities. The
Burlington Community Fund will maintain
its
status as a
non-profit charitable organization and
all funds generated from the facility
will be returned to the
community.
As with any project of this magnitude,
significant hurdles have been overcome.
It is clear that throughout this
process, the City, the Veterans and the
Burlington Community Fund are committed
to this project, and will work together
to Resolve issues as they arise. It is
my firm belief that this project as
planned is in the best interest of the
City of Burlington, Veterans Memorial
Building and the entire Burlington
community.
However, there is still a need to raise
money so that this project can be
finished. As Mayor, I am calling on all
the citizens of the City of Burlington,
and the surrounding Towns, to help us
finish the job. We owe it to our
Veterans, who have given so much to us,
to rebuild this "Living Memorial" to
them.
Please help by donating to this
important project. Donations can be sent
to the Burlington Community Fund, Ltd.
P.O. Box 546, Burlington, WI 53105 or
made online at www.burlingtonvets.com.
You can also honor a loved one by buying
a Memorial Brick that will be placed on
the grounds of the Veterans Terrace at
Echo Park. Memorial Brick order forms
are located at www.burlingtonvets.com.
The Citizens of Burlington have proven
over and over again that they have the
heart, determination, and courage to
complete projects that benefit the
entire community. As we move forward, I
am asking you to do so one more time.
Robert "Bob" Miller
Mayor, City of Burlington
