Is a veteran's memorial destined for Silverdale?

Kitsap County may finally get its own veterans’ memorial — right here in Silver City.

Plans are afoot — tentative, sketchy, preliminary — to establish a vets’ memorial on a patch of ground north of Silverdale off Silverdale way.

The Silverdale Sunrise Rotary came up with the idea about a year ago, and has forged a working relationship with the Home Builders Association of Kitsap County to build the memorial, said Bill Wright, local mover and shaker and CEO of Donobi, a local Internet software company.

(Wright was instrumental in building the KitsapKids Playground at the Fairgrounds.)

“They (HBA) have members who can contribute cash, labor and materials,” said Wright. “We can handle fundraising, organizing and marketing.”

Rotary applied for — and received — a $3,500 grant from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, he said, to act as seed money for the project — which is estimated to cost about $100,000 in donated cash, labor, materials and equipment.

The Rotary is underwriting the project until fundraising can begin, he added.

The Rotary and HBA want to include Eagle Scouts in helping build the memorial, he added. Scouts have been instrumental in creating Clear Creek Park through town.

The memorial is tentatively planned to locate south of the skateboarders park north of the Waaga Way overpass.

He said it will honor all vets from all branches of service. Mithun Architects of Seattle have donated their time and expertise to draft a preliminary plan.

Art Castle, executive vice president of the HBA, said the memorial may include mounds for privacy, flag poles for U.S., Washington and Kitsap flags, as well as flags of the branches of services, and a water fountain with reflective pool.

Nothing is cast in concrete at this point, said all concerned.

But if it comes to pass, organizers hope for groundbreaking this summer and a dedication ceremony next Veterans Day, Nov. 11, said Castle.

“We’re very excited about this happening in Kitsap County,” commented Castle. “It will be a very serene place to go for those who want to remember our vets.”

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