Village Hears Plans to Honor Veterans

Mayor John Noak and the village board got an update Wednesday on the status of plans to revamp the village’s veterans memorial.

Recently , the monument to local veterans is getting a facelift as part of plans to redevelop the former village hall site on Montrose Drive.

Patty King of Hitchcock Design Group of Naperville shared a rendering of what the $2.7 million project will look like when completed. That estimate includes beautification and stormwater work along the nearby Spangler Road.

Originally built in 1992, the redesigned memorial will include two walkways leading to the monument curving around the existing Safety Town.

The walkway along Montrose Drive will feature an entry wall designed to mirror the brickwork at the new village hall, along with a plaque bearing the new name of the memorial. A second walkway will feature a column with an eagle sculpture and a second plaque honoring McCartan, plus 15 granite inlays featuring military-themed quotations.

The veterans memorial itself includes five large granite monuments—one for each branch of the U.S. military—plus three new flagpoles bearing the flags of the United States, the State of Illinois and the Village of Romeoville.

“This is an important area to us,” said Noak, adding the new memorial will be used to host Veterans Day and other village events. “If reflects the service (residents) have given to the nation.”

According to Assistant Village Manager Dawn Caldwell, 95 percent of the project can be paid for with tax increment financing funding, which is set aside for capital improvement projects.

The veterans memorial is part of Phase 1 of plans to redevelop the Montrose Drive site.

The second phase includes improvements to the nearby Murphy Park. In November, the village applied for a state grant that could pay for up to 75 percent of that portion of the project, estimated to cost $1.5 million.

Bids for the project are scheduled to come before the board for a vote April 20.

 American Legion presents building plan

Members of Romeoville American Legion presented their plans for what will eventually become the .

Named for the late village clerk, the post would be the first of its kind, containing a residence for homeless veterans, plus a banquet facility, bar and offices for American Legion officials. In addition to banquets and events, the facility would welcome community group meetings and activities, according to Cmdr. Christopher Benigno.

The veterans home would have a maximum occupancy of 10 indviduals and a family of five, and offer not just housing but also a therapeutic component, including post-traumatic stress counseling and employment training.

The pricetag? Nearly $4 million. The legion kicked off fundraising last month with a benefit at , and more events are in the works.

In addition to local fundraising, Benigno plans to represent the post at the March 24 “Hiring for Heroes” job fair in Chicago, sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois chamber and the Chicagoland chamber.

While there, he hopes to rub elbows with the event’s keynote speaker: First Lady Michelle Obama.

“Hopefully I can get close enough to her to hand this off to her and make something happen at the federal level,” Benigno said.

Noak, calling the legion members “people with amazing hearts,” joined village trustees in lauding the post’s efforts.

“I couldn’t be prouder of all of you,” trustee Linda Palmiter said.

“I think this would be an asset for the municipality, for the residents,” trustee Jose Chavez said. “I think it’s an awesome idea.”

To donate to the post’s building fund, visit www.americanlegion52.com.