By Darrell Kirby | [email protected]

A longtime desire of Mayor Ron Bigelow and his fellow military veterans is a step closer to reality in West Valley City. 

Bigelow, who served in the Air Force, says that enough funds have been raised from the city, Salt Lake County, and private donors to enable ground to be broken for the first phase of a structure to honor Utah veterans.  

An honor wall to remember Utahns who served and died in combat will be built on city property south of the Utah Cultural Celebration Center. Groundbreaking is tentatively planned for, appropriately, Memorial Day. “Our No. 1 goal is to honor veterans, especially those who have given their lives,” Bigelow said. 

Bigelow says about $300,000 has already been raised with additional commitments totaling $500,000. Total cost of phase one is expected to be just over $1 million. At its completion,  targeted for Veterans Day in November, the project will consist of an honor wall, a flag plaza, garden area with trees, benches and a parking area. 

James Sheppard, commander of the West Valley-Kearns Post of Veterans of Foreign Wars, said the proposed facility is a great idea, even if it’s a long time coming. “I kind of wish it was already there because I have a lot of veterans falling fast” due to age and illness. 

Future phases include a building that will house a studio where the combat experiences of military men and women can be recorded and made available for visitors. “There are a lot of stories besides just the simple part of honoring veterans,” Bigelow said. Artifacts will be few, but photos of veterans will be on display and a kiosk will enable people to look up veterans by name, city or a particular conflict.   

Bigelow expects the new veterans project to draw military men and women and their families, friends, and supporters from throughout Utah and the region. 

The entire project, when finished in several years, could run about $8 million. But that is small  in comparison to the sacrifice made by servicemen and women, with some paying the ultimate price. 

“We need to remember them…we need to remember them,” Bigelow said.