Gilroy
– A flag monument honoring Gilroy’s men and women of uniform
will soon go up in Christmas Hill Park, where local officials plan
to move forward with a project six years in the making.
Gilroy – A flag monument honoring Gilroy’s men and women of uniform will soon go up in Christmas Hill Park, where local officials plan to move forward with a project six years in the making.
City staff and architects will put the finishing touches on designs in coming months now that officials have received money for the project, according to Wayne Cegelske, chaplain of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6309.
Cegelske presented an $87,000 check to Mayor Al Pinheiro last week during a City Council meeting, pointing out that the VFW and American Legion Post 217 began raising money for the project in 1999.
“As the years went by the price went up, so we had to keep raising more money,” he said. “But we finally made it.”
The monument will include tree plantings, personalized brick, and three flag poles. The tallest center pole will fly an American flag, with the shorter side poles displaying the state flag and a black and white flag honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action.
“As a result of our announcement, we got a donation of a huge piece of granite,” Cegelske added. “We’d like to see some big construction company donate their labor.”
The granite stone will serve as the centerpiece of the new monument. It will display a folded flag fashioned on the one used in the ceremonial presentation of honors at military funerals.
The crescent-shaped park area will also display the plaques of all six branches of the armed services – Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Merchant Marine, and the Navy.
Cegelske said residents can purchase laser-inscribed bricks for $200 for the area around the monument. He said the fundraising group is still collecting money for future maintenance of the monument.
To purchase a brick or to make a donation, contact Cegelske at 842-4903 or write to Gilroy Veterans Flagpole Fund; P.O. Box 1588, Gilroy 95021.
