Veterans Project Committee plan for a Memorial Wall

   In February of 2003 a committee from the Big Springs Museum and local veterans started a campaign to collect the names of local veterans, past and present. To date, over 350 names plus a number of photos have been preserved in binders at the Big Springs Museum.

Now on to Phase II

   After a two-year hiatus, the committee started regular meetings again under a new name: The Caledonia-Mumford Veterans Memorial Wall committee. Their goal is to build a wall that displays the names collected and leave room to add more names in the future.

   The proposed site at the present time is the side lawn at the War Memorial building on Church Street in Caledonia. The committee is working with the Caledonia War Veterans Memorial Inc. and the Village Code Enforcement Officer to address any issues.

   The final design and dimensions has not been completed but several layouts are being considered and drawings are being created by volunteers at an area Engineering firm. The end result will be similar to the Dansville (see their photo below) Veterans Memorial Wall.

   The big question is always money and where will it come from. To complete a first class memorial the committee estimates a cost of somewhere between ten and twenty thousand dollars. The final figure will depend on many aspects including flagpoles, walkways, benches, shrubbery and lighting. Grant monies from the state and fundraising events are being investigated.

   Plans for the Veterans Memorial Wall will be available at the Legion following the ceremonies on Memorial Day 2007. The current goal is to have a dedication ceremony and a completed project in the afternoon of Memorial Day 2009.

   You can still submit names to the database for the wall by following the Forms link below. There are also forms available in the Village Office. There is an additional link below to view the names and information collected to date. All new information will continue to be updated at the Big Springs Museum.

   A kick off event is scheduled for the Sunday before Memorial Day when 16 teenage-youths from the community, better known as the Wiffle Ball Marathon Team, will be recruiting teams from the school, businesses, churches, village and town boards to compete against. A fun filled day is planned with all proceeds going to the Memorial Wall fund. More information on this event is forthcoming.

Caledonia-Mumford Veterans Memorial Wall Committee