Veterans Tribute Fundraiser Planned at the Royal Park Hotel

ROCHESTER, MI — A fundraising event is planned for Nov. 10 at the Royal Park Hotel to raise funds to build the veterans tribute on the corner of Adams and Silverbell roads.

“This is an exciting event for Oakland Township,” Township Supervisor Terry Gonser told the Rochester Post.

The land where the tribute will be built has been donated and will be funded privately. The Rochester Post reports that the sale of memorial bricks and benches along with fundraising events and an endowment will supplement a significant donation of $125,000 from Moceri Investments.

The Oakland Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved the terms of the lease for the tribute on Oct. 11. The terms are a quite affordable 99-year lease with rent of $1 per year.

“We wanted a tribute, not a memorial,” Gonser told the Rochester Post. “Glass panels and lighting, so it will glow at night to honor all veterans — past, present and future.”

The nonprofit organization, Veterans Tribute of Oakland Township heads up the coordination of a design team led by designer David Bruehand and local architect Stephen McKay.

Timothy Reese of the Veterans Tribute of Oakland Township group says that things are all falling into place.

“We have made a lot of progress. We have design approvals and the lease,” Reese said. “Now we have to raise the money.”

According to the Rochester Post, Reese says the the total cost of the tribute will exceed $500,000. The group's goal is to begin the project in the spring and dedicated the Tribute on Veteran's Day 2017.

The fundraiser will begin at 5 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Royal Park Hotel and at 6:30 p.m. a presentation will be given detailing the project along with information on how to donate to the tribute.

Tickets are $50 each and include food, beer and wine.

Tickets can be purchased online at veteranstributeoaklandtwpmi.org.

Image via Shutterstock