Crestwood Veterans Expect Non-Profit Status for Donations to Build Memorial

Crestwood Veterans Memorial Committee is expected to achieve its non-profit status by the end of the month, marking an important step in the creation of a veterans memorial for the city.

The committee met Thursday at Government Center in Crestwood and learned the news from committee chair Russell Whitener. A Vietnam veteran and retired St. Louis Metropolitan Police sergeant, Whitener said the 501(c)3 application was in Jefferson City for determination and could be ready by next week.

The non-profit status will allow the group to fundraise for construction of a memorial. However, committee members have not named an amount of money that would be needed to build a memorial. 

The handful of military veterans were brought together by Crestwood's police Chief Michael Paillou about a year and a half ago. Paillou is a U.S. Marine.

So far, committee members have stationed themselves at Shop 'n Save with an artist's rendering display, and encouraging pledges toward construction.

Once the charitable status is official, committee members may accept donations for the memorial.

Veteran Jerry Bartsch was named treasurer.

The group has two rough plans. The one plan is simply to spruce up a memorial stone in front of Government Center. The stone has just five names etched in it.

The other plan looks similar to a memorial dedicated a year ago in the town of Manchester (see photos accompanying here.) It would have benches and brick pavers that donors could "buy" and put names on it. 

Committee member John Morrissette said a good location for the memorial is near the entrance of Whitecliff Park.

For more information and to make a pledge toward constructing a memorial contact the Crestwood .