Mount Olive Veterans Memorial group fine-tunes fundraiser

The Mount Olive Veterans Memorial Committee is continuing to fine-tune fundraising efforts for a planned $20,500 addition to the memorial located across West Main Street from Steele Memorial Library.

While the most immediate focus of the fundraising is selling some 500 tickets for a $20-contribution each, the committee also is taking a long-term approach with a raffle for a $1,200 stainless steel gas grill, donated by Parker Gas Co., that will be given away next April during the N.C. Pickle Festival.

The grill is currently on display at Parker Gas Co., 131 N. Center St. However, a more permanent display setting is being planned. Committee members also are working on getting tickets printed and setting ticket cost.

A ticket holder will not have to be present to win.

The God and Country concert featuring Gaylon Pope and Sweetwater concert, will follow the annual Veterans Day ceremony that will be held at the memorial at 2 p.m Sunday, Nov. 12.

Traditionally, the ceremony is held at 3 p.m., but is being held earlier to give people time to get from the ceremony to the concert, committee Chairman Steve Wiggins said during the committee’s Wednesday, Sept. 6 meeting.

“So, what we are selling — we are not really selling tickets to a concert,” Wiggins said. “We are asking for a $20 contribution and in appreciation for their contribution, here’s a free ticket to a gospel concert.

“So, really what we are asking for is a $20 contribution. There are people who will buy a ticket because this is for our veterans.”

For tickets send an email to Mount Olive Town Clerk Sherry Davis at secretary@townofmountolivenc.com or call her at 919-658-9539, ext. 106.

Tickets also include chances to win door prizes at the concert. Ticket holders do not have to be present to win.

Committee members, most of whom are veterans, all have a stake in the project and that is to raise as much money as possible, Wiggins added.

“So, I want to challenge everyone to take 20 tickets, and sell them within your group, whether it is the American Legion, whether it is the VFW, or whether it is Men of FIC, or whatever,” Wiggins said. “I want you all to take 20 tickets and let that be your responsibility, your part of this.

“It is not that hard to sell them. I have better luck selling five tickets at a time — a $100 sell. There are different organizations you can go to. A member of the Rotary Club has bought. Exchange Club has bought. Individuals with the town have bought.”

As of the Wednesday meeting, 231 tickets had been sold.

The tickets have stubs that are easily detached, Lynn Joyner said.

She encouraged members to ensure that the name and phone number of the ticket holder are on the ticket. That serves two purposes, Joyner explained.One is so the ticket holder can be contacted if they win a door prize, since they do not have to be present to win. Secondly, if anyone misplaces their ticket, because they are buying them now for November, it allows for verification that they have a ticket, she added.

Plans were finalized at the meeting for members to talk to local businesses and industries and organizations about possible donations.

Members agreed as well to see if they could secure the services of a color guard for the concert. The committee also is working to contact military bases in eastern North Carolina for their support.

The committee has been looking at two additions to the memorial that was dedicated on Nov. 10, 2014, but has never been completed as originally envisioned.

The three stones that make up the memorial are inscribed with the names of local veterans who have died in wars dating back to World War I.

Because of cost, the committee decided to do the additions one at a time.

The first that will be funded is a memorial pedestal with a bald eagle perched on top. It will be created by McLamb Monument Co. of Goldsboro.

The base and eagle will be about 6-feet, 8-inches tall. The eagle is 40-inches tall.

It will take five to six months for the monument to be placed once it is ordered, and a $10,000 deposit is needed to place the order.

The pedestal will be placed near the front of the site on the Mount Olive Housing Authority office side.

While not part of the current project, the committee is also looking to add a memorial wall that will include a stone on which the emblems of the six branches of the U.S. military will be displayed — Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and Space Force.

A bald eagle statue will be on top.

It will be placed near the front of the site on the North Chestnut Street side.

The project also includes more lighting and replacing two wooden benches.

The benches were replaced Aug. 2 with blue all-weather benches donated by the Exchange Club of Mount Olive.

Also, the public is reminded as well that pavers are still being sold for the Walk of Honor at the memorial site.

The costs are: $250 for a 6-inch by 9-inch paver (up to three lines of 20 characters); $400 for a 9-inch by 9-inch paver (small logo and up to three lines of 20 characters); $700 for a 9-inch by 9-inch paver (corporate logo only); and $1,000 for a 12-inch by 12-inch paver (donor submits design).

For more information, or for tickets send an email to Davis at secretary@townofmountolivenc.com or call her at 919-658-9539, ext. 106.