Each day is bringing the Orion Veterans’ Memorial closer to being a reality, with Phase I to be completed this fall.
Project founder Dr. Joseph Mastromatteo was on hand with Lake Orion Village Manager Jo Ann Van Tassel, also a member of the memorial’s board of directors, at the Sept. 15 Orion Township Board of Trustees meeting to deliver a project report to the board. Mastromatteo said construction above ground is increasing daily and residents will soon see a lot of activity on the site.
“Guinn Construction is now the general contractor, and the sidewalks, footings for walls and underground irrigation are all done,” said Mastromatteo. “Jacobsen’s has planted shrubs and the building for water and electrical is under construction.”
The site, located at the corner of Odanah and M-24, has most of its underground work completed, according to Mastromatteo, and the donators’ wall is nearing completion.
“It’s catching on now that people can see something happening,” he said. “Now for the first time you’ll start to see above ground construction, which I’m sure will be a shot in the arm for the whole community.”
The memorial’s board of directors is spending no money on administration fees, and is developing the project based on donations and the sale of bricks bearing veterans’ names for the wall. Van Tassel said there will be a place reserved for those who would like to participate in the brick sale but are not veterans.
“As part of the fundraising, we are also going to let people buy sections of the wall ($400 per section) and be commemorated for that,” added Van Tassel. “We are also offering donations of the short pillars for $800 and $1,200 for the main entry way pillars.
“If it wasn’t for the township stepping forward in the early days of this project, this would still be Dr. Joe’s dream.”