National LGBT Veterans Memorial
Launches Design Competition
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The National LGBT
Veterans Memorial has announced the launch of its
monument design competition. The memorial in our
nation's capitol will include a monument, niches for the
cremains of LGBT veterans and their partners, and memorial bricks honoring
the memory of LGBT
veterans. To be built at the
historic Congressional Cemetery in Washington DC, the
memorial will
be an ongoing and lasting commemoration and resting
place for our own patriotic lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender veterans of service in our American armed
forces.
Over a decade in
the making, the memorial project was begun last year and
is now in the design phase with a hoped for opening
ceremony by 2015.
According to a press release in mid
February:
The National LGBT Veterans Memorial Announces Design
Competition For LGBT Veterans Monument At Historic
Congressional Cemetery Located In Washington, D.C.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender (LGBT) veterans have served our nation with
honor and distinction since the Revolutionary War. Many
of these brave men and women have had to serve in
silence. Now that the ban on their service has been
repealed, it is even more urgent we
erect a memorial to all LGBT
past, present and future veterans. This memorial will be
a visible and lasting testament to the contribution they
have made to the security of the United States.
The
Board of the National LGBT Veterans Memorial (NLGBTVM)
is pleased to announce a competition for design of a
monument and memorial garden to honor LGBT veterans who
have served in the United States armed forces. This
competition is open to all who would like to
participate. The concept behind this project contains
three specific aspects: first, a central
monument/memorial; secondly, burial space for cremains
of veterans; and thirdly, individual brick or paver
memorializations. Deadline for design submission will be
July 15, 2013. While the site will serve individuals, it
will also serve as a national place of honor, retaining
the dignity of a memorial garden.
Nancy Russell, a retired Army
LTC and Chair of the NLGBTVM Board of Directors said,
“The time has come for those of us who were forced to
serve in silence to honor our fellow veterans with a
dignified and impressive memorial in our national
capitol. The National LGBT Veterans Memorial will be a
fitting testament to those who have served our nation
with honor.
Those interested in
participating and would like more information should go
to the website at
www.nlgbtvm.org or email
Chair@NLGBTVM.org.
According to LTC Russell, "There is historic and
social value to be served by having a place where the
service of LGBT veterans is acknowledged and serves as a
testament to their sacrifice for future understanding.
The National LGBT Veterans Memorial will provide a
fitting and proper memorial and resting place where our
veterans may take pride in their service, attend
memorials and wreath laying services, sit in reflection,
a place where family and friends can gather to honor
their loved ones who have fallen or those currently
serving. Well over a million of our nations veterans
have been forced to serve in silence and this memorial
will be a place to honor the sacrifice LGBT veterans have endured over the course of history.
The planning for this memorial has been long in coming.
Your help is needed in making this memorial a reality.
We welcome hearing from those wishing to support this
project. Please contact me at
Chair@NLGBTVM.org"