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Date: 7/2/2021
GRANBY – The Friends of the Granby Veterans are continuing to help veterans in town while also raising money to build the Veterans Memorial with a fundraising event in Dufresne Park.
Mike Pandora, who serves as the president of the Friends of Granby Veterans, said he started the group with several others. He said the group serves two purposes, first to raise money for the Granby Veterans Memorial, and also to assist veterans in town “as needs arise.”
In addition to the town recently voting in favor of adding $50,000 to fund the memorial, Pandora said they had “already raised $175,000.” This, he said, would allow for the first phase of the project to be completed.
He explained the first phase of the project would include the construction of the wall itself, the bronze plaques which would hold the names of veterans and a military tank. “There’s going to be a military tank that we’ve gotten from Fort Devens. We haven’t rolled it into town yet, but it’ll be at the site as well, but we have to pay to get it tagged, transported here [and] put the tank in place,” he said.
The memorial and tank, he said, would be placed in the center of town on the former site of Aldrich Hall, above the current safety complex. He said while there was still a garage the town uses, the “property is completely open,” allowing for plenty of space for people to enjoy the memorial.
Pandora said as they are able to fundraise and continue to procure funds, the memorial would expand into a memorial park. “As we raise money, that corner is going to be a veterans memorial park. We’re going to fund the money to make it a full corner,” he said. Pandora said while the town would maintain the park, the Friends of Granby Veterans would continue to raise funds to add names to the memorial when necessary and address other aspects of the park.
“If there are things that need to be replaced or get broken. If the town doesn’t have the funding, the Friends will fund or raise the money to fund it,” he said. “Like a silent partner in the background to help the town budget whatever they may be able to budget. Certain things that the town budget doesn’t have money for, we’re going to do the fundraising to help them out.”
On July 10 at Dufresne Park, the group will continue their fundraising efforts by hosting a Saturday in the park event. The event will feature what Pandora described as “a pretty popular band.” He said the band, Old Country Road, had previously been in town and “drew a pretty large crowd.”
Tickets for the event, which will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., cost $10 each. Pandora said tickets would include a sandwich basket with chips, soda or water. To listen to the music, however, was no charge and all were welcome. Additionally, he said ice cream sundaes would be available to purchase for $3.
In addition to live music, Pandora said there would also be both a 50/50 raffle and raffle baskets. “We’ll put together different basket items, raffle those off. We always do a 50/50 raffle and of course donations,” he said.
He emphasized that 100 percent of the profits would go toward the project and helping veterans where they may need. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the event.
Updates for the event and the Friends can be found on the Friends of Granby Veterans Facebook page and online at granbyveteransmemorial.org. Donations can also be made online.