Work begins on VFW Memorial Monument renovation, volunteers wanted

NEGAUNEE — In early June, a fundraiser to renovate the Negaunee VFW Memorial Monument and the surrounding areas had raised over $5,000 more than their original goal, thanks to members of the community and their generous donations. Those renovations began Monday morning.

Nick Mattson is a local Boy Scout who is doing the work for his Eagle Scout project, and he said he appreciates the community funding the project which is going toward major renovations to the monument. Work on restoring the monument included the removal of the old wooden signs and cleaning the flower beds, but there is still more work to be done.

“Today we’re working on getting the flower beds cleaned out, and then planting flowers,” said Mattson. “After we’re finished with this, tomorrow we’re going to start making the flower beds look better, and then hopefully sometime soon we’ll get our sign stuff and be able to put that up. Thanks to the community for helping us fund this project, and even more.”

This Eagle Scout project is just the first step in the renovations that will be happening to the park, which is expected to also get a new flag pole and a patio space for community gatherings. Negaunee VFW Post Commander Bernie Stanaway was looking for help on the project, and that’s how Mattson became involved.

“Basically, I was looking for an Eagle Scout project and Bernie asked for help on this memorial,” Mattson said. “I said ‘why not,’ because it felt very patriotic.”

Volunteers to help work on the project would be appreciated as they continue on Tuesday morning, where they will begin at approximately 10 a.m.