Dine at Chili's on Thursdays to Support the Brighton Veterans Memorial

Mention the Brighton Veterans Memorial while dining at Chili's Grill & Bar every Thursday from now until the end of April and 10 percent of sales will go towards funding the project. 

Customers can mention the veterans memorial by name or bring in a copy of the flyer, which is available to the right or on the Brighton Veterans Memorial Facebook page. There are no limitations on menu items, including alcohol. 

Brighton Veterans Memorial Board Chair Bryan Bradford estimates that construction on the memorial will begin sometime after Labor Day, as long as the funds are secured. 

According to Bradford, the organization needs another $20,000 to fund the $150,000 project. 

"I'm pretty awestruck of the support that we're getting from the different community members, from our city, and it's quite humbling to be part of something that's going to be here well after I'm gone," he said. "It's pretty exciting. I'm ecstatic that we're going to be able to do this for the men and women who sacrificed so much and the families that sacrificed so much to let them know that this community cares."

The veterans memorial site plan was approved by City Council last May. The Groundbreaking ceremony was held during last year's Memorial Day parade. 

The plan is to take the existing memorial rock and move it to a new location, by the COBACH Center and in front of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The new memorial will be a horseshoe design, with representation of all five armed forces - Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. The entrance of the memorial will have the American Flag on one side and the black POW/MIA Flag on the other.

In addition to the Chilis fundraiser, the organization is accepting $115 donations for an engraved brick paver that will be used in the memorial. 

So far, Bradford said the memorial has sold 67 bricks as of last month, but they have gotten several orders in since. 

People can donate or buy a brick by visiting www.brightonveteransmemorial.org/donations.