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M <br />Attachment 2 <br />April 29, 2015 <br />The Honorable Earl McKee <br />Chairman, Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />5200 Kiger Road <br />Rougemont, NC 27572 <br />Dear Commissioner McKee: <br />On November 22, 2010, Colonel Fred Black, U.S. Army (Retired) and a Vietnam Veteran, <br />then serving as the Veterans Memorial Committee Chairman, petitioned the Town Council to <br />approve the siting of a proposed Veterans Memorial at Chapel Hill at the Chapel Hill <br />Memorial Cemetery. This request was approved and the Veterans Memorial Committee <br />began the design phase. <br />A preliminary concept design was developed and brought before the Town Council and <br />approved in April 2013. <br />This memorial is for all veterans and includes veterans in neighboring communities. We are <br />now formulating the plan for project funding where we will solicit funds needed for <br />memorial construction. <br />Concurrent with our efforts, veterans, students, and families of veterans of Orange County <br />have also asked the question, "Why don't we have a County Veterans Memorial ?" That <br />challenge has created an opportunity for the veterans of Chapel Hill to join with county <br />veterans to build a noble memorial for the Town of Chapel Hill and Orange County within <br />Chapel Hill. We have shared our memorial's concept with Orange County veterans and it has <br />been well received. <br />This county memorial may be a good and appropriate fit for the Orange County Southern <br />Human Services complex on Homestead Rd. Space for a memorial on the "homestead" site <br />area may be available. The Veterans Committee has looked at this alternate site and, if <br />available, would provide a premiere location for a Veterans Memorial at Chapel Hill. It is <br />well- suited for a memorial on the upper hillside. There is ample parking, public <br />transportation, and the center is frequently visited by both Chapel Hill and county citizens. <br />I share this information with you now, as we have been asked to consider combining efforts. <br />The county will soon be asked about a memorial and an appropriate site. We think that <br />Homestead Road site in Chapel Hill would be well - served to be the home for a veterans' <br />memorial for the veterans of Orange County. <br />Most respectfully, <br />JIM MERRITT BRUCE RUNSBERG <br />Veterans Memorial Committee Chairman Co- Chairman <br />