State of Nevada War Memorial plans advance

Plans are gaining momentum in the quest to build a memorial on Capitol grounds honoring Nevada's fallen soldiers from statehood in 1864 to the present.

A large but focused group put together by Gold Star Families of Nevada and representing the military, law enforcement, government officials and more met Saturday afternoon to go over design plans and share collaboration ideas for the proposed State of Nevada War Memorial.

Plans for the 24-foot-wide by 225-foot-long project, which proponents hope to place behind the Capitol building south of the Veterans Memorial Plaza, include a Walk of Remembrance, Gold Star Monument with a fallen-soldier statue, Gold Star Plaza, Wall of Sacrifice for Nevada's fallen military heroes, flagpoles, a history and information area and service medallions for all branches of the military.

"How do you give back to a state that's given so much?" said Bill Johnson, board president for Gold Star Families.

Johnson explained that plans are preliminary at this stage, and that they will need state approval before moving forward. If all goes well, work could begin within 15-18 months from now.

Project coordinator Jana McElhaney said that the education area would be particularly significant for students and others visiting the memorial, and that plans are being made to archive soldiers' stories.

"I think those are priceless," she said.

Darrin Berger, whose firm, Berger Hannafin Architects, donated its services for the design, said the project likely would be built in six phases, depending on funding availability. The Iraq War would be built first, followed in chronological order from newest to oldest. Estimates for completion range from four to six years.

A cost for the project has not yet been estimated.

The idea for the memorial first came from Sgt. Brad Williams of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department after he lost his son on Oct. 9, 2006. Pfc. Phillip Brandon Williams, of Gardnerville, was serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom when he was killed.

There is no estimate yet of how many other names would be etched into the wall, but Johnson said the state's Department of Veterans Affairs would establish the criteria for who is entitled to be listed.

Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell said there are plans to expand the Nevada Day celebration this year to start on Wednesday in order to include a memorial service to honor those who have served in the military.

"I think that would be a good place to market this," Crowell said.

McElhaney said Gold Star Families, a nonprofit organization, will depend on help from many groups and donors.

"The only way this is going to be built is by all of us working together," she said.

Berger said the design proposal is expected to go to the state's building and grounds and public works departments the first week in March.

Gold Star Families of Nevada was formed to recognize the sacrifice of those who have given their lives in defense of our nation, according to its mission statement.