Town of Colonie Unveils Plans For Veterans Memorial
At The Crossings of Colonie

2,500-Square-foot Site to Memorialize Town Residents
from All Branches of Armed Services;

Expected to Open in November 2008

COLONIE (November 16, 2007) — The Town of Colonie today announced plans to construct a Veteran's Memorial project at The Crossings of Colonie that will honor men and women from all branches of the armed services from the town who served their country.

Sponsored by Robert L. Weininger Memorial VFW Post 8692, the new 2,500-square-foot memorial will be situated in a corner of the park (located at 580 Albany Shaker Road) adjacent to the playground.

"Our town has a deep history and those who served this country's armed forces are a significant part of that heritage," said Town of Colonie Supervisor Mary E. Brizzell, noting that the town actively tracks living and deceased war veterans through its Veteran's Project Web site (http://www.colonie.org/vetproject/index.htm).

"The Crossings of Colonie is a fitting place to host and maintain this memorial," she added. "As a passive park, one of its primary purposes is to provide opportunity for reflection. It is only fitting that visitors have a chance to ponder the service and sacrifice of local men and women who answered our nation's call during its times of greatest need."

The project, which is being designed pro bono by Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture & Engineering P.C., will feature five stone plaques (representing the five service branches: army, navy, air force, marines and coast guard) mounted to a stone retaining wall, in front of which will run a narrow reflective pool. The names of town veterans will be inscribed on stone pavers placed in front of the memorial. The handicapped accessible, tree-lined setting will also feature a flagpole, benches and will be connected to the existing bike path.

Robert L. Weininger Memorial VFW Post 8692 is overseeing the cost of the memorial and is seeking donations from members of the community, local businesses and other veteran's organizations.

"Construction costs have yet to be determined," said Robert LaDuke, commander of VFW Post 8692 and the project's chairperson and fundraiser. "However, we're hoping to get the labor donated, so that we'll only need to pay for the materials.

"Once the memorial design has been finalized, we'll know just how many bricks we will have available for public purchase," he continued. "Our goal is to make these bricks affordable so that it will not be a financial hardship for families wishing to memorialize their loved ones."

A few hamlets within the Town of Colonie already have Veterans Memorials such as West Albany Pocket Park. However, up until now, none of these locations has been exclusively for town residents from all military branches of the services and in all wars.

"The memorial's location is fitting," said LaDuke. "Thousands of families bring their children to play at The Crossings each year. I hope many of them will take the opportunity to walk over and explain to America's future generations the sacrifices made by their neighbors to preserve our freedoms."

To make a donation to the project or obtain the form to purchase a brick, send to Colonie Memorial Fund, PO Box 12083, Albany NY 12212 or email dukerlightman@aol.com.

Download Brick Order Form