Memorial Maintenance Accessible Shed

See update at the bottom.

NEW.org is helping Vietnam Veterans of America, Charles S. Kettles Chapter 310 (VVA 310) raise funds for a new shed that will allow our aging and infirm members to continue to care for the Washtenaw County Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

VVA 310 ensures that never again will one generation of veterans abandon another by assisting war era veterans and their families and the families of deceased veterans.  We do this through support of the Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System and their patients, through social events and through a public outreach program and through our veteran affinity merchandise sales.  We also ensure that those from Washtenaw County who died as a result of the Vietnam War are never forgotten.  We built and maintain the Washtenaw County Vietnam Veterans Memorial and oversee or conduct all public services and ceremonies that occur there.

The work at the Memorial is done by our volunteer members.  All of the equipment we use is kept in a tiny shed a long way away from the Memorial.  This picture is taken at the shed looking toward the Memorial.  You can see the US flag at the Memorial above the first blue sign.

As you can see, the shed is so full that it is difficult to get to anything without moving a lot of other stuff first.

Because of the age and the service-connected disabilities of our volunteers, the shed's location, size and condition make maintenance work almost too difficult for our members to perform.  We will remedy this by building a new shed much closer to the Memorial that will be designed so that it can be used by disabled Veterans and others who help maintain the Memorial.  Your support will not only make that possible, but will improve our ability to host events at the Memorial.  The shed will be serviced by electricity and water which will not only make maintenance easier, but it will also allow increased service and use of the Memorial.

Please click this link for a Drone view of the Memorial .

The Washtenaw County Vietnam Veterans Memorial was the first in Washtenaw County to recognize Vietnam Era Veterans, and is still the largest and most well known Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the county.  It has not only served as the place where family members of the fallen go to find peace and assurance that their loved ones’ sacrifice will not be forgotten, but it also serves as a prominent reminder to our still living Vietnam Era Veterans that society no longer thinks of them the way society thought of them during the years after the war ended.  The Memorial also honors those Vietnam Era Veterans who have died of their service-connected injuries and illnesses long after the war was over, and honors those who simply did what their country expected them to do even though it was dangerous and not popular to do at the time.

We are expecting some in-kind contributions from regular donors such as Doan Construction, Todd M Johnson Construction, Diversified Excavators, Chelsea Lumber, and Home Depot to name a few.  However, major costs that are not being donated include the purchase and installation of the transformer DTE will install, the cost of running underground electric to the shed, and the cost of running underground pipes to YCUA's water main.  Therefore, our fundraising goal is $20,000, even though the shed will only cost abut $6,000 for materials.

The new shed will be 10 by 16 feet, with 12 foot walls.  There will be some attic storage space over one half the shed.  

UPDATE:  We now have a new transformer ready to power the shed.

And we have the site staked out ready for Diversified Excavating to begin trenching and grading operations.

We had to prepay for all of the shed building materials, because the prices are going up every day.  So today would be a great day for a donation if you are planning to make one.  Thank you all for your help.  This is going to make a big difference to many people for a long time.  It is not just a shed.  It is a commitment to the families who have lost loved ones.