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Fundraiser set for Huntley veterans memorial project

A group of volunteers is organizing a 1940s-themed dance fundraiser May 16 to collect money for a veterans memorial in downtown Huntley.

The project is estimated to cost $150,000. The 25-foot-long curved black granite monument will be 6 feet, 6 inches tall and be built in Huntley's Town Square, where the village has granted land for the project. It will be located east of the gazebo just west of village hall.

It will honor local veterans and include seven connected monuments representing branches of the military with flags for each service, two granite benches dedicated to prisoners of war and those missing in action, and Purple Heart honorees. There will also be a Gold Star Boys monument for those killed in action.

The nonprofit Huntley Area Veterans Foundation has been selling custom-engraved bricks and seeking corporate sponsorships for the memorial site since last summer. The group also has been reaching out to community groups, area businesses and residents for donations, and participating in community events like farmer's markets, Huntley Fall Fest, and most recently the Huntley Chamber of Commerce Expo.

The Huntley American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary have jointly donated $10,000 toward the project.

The Huntley Senior Citizens Club also gave $2,500.

More benches and monuments could be added in future if there is enough money.

"It's all about funds," said foundation President Dawn Ellison, 58, of Huntley, a supervisor for the U.S. Postal Service in Hoffman Estates. "We need $50,000 to order the granite. From the time we order the granite, it takes nine to 10 months before we can install."

Peter Troost Monument Co. in Hillside will be doing the granite work.

Originally planning for a Nov. 11 dedication, group leaders now hope to have the memorial ready by Memorial Day 2016.

"The outpouring of support for this project has been wonderful," Ellison said. "We've been selling bricks to be installed at the monument, and having joined the chamber, we are seeing involvement from businesses who want to be part of the project."

The dance fundraiser, "Party with the Patriots," is 6 p.m. May 16 at the Huntley American Legion, 11712 Coral St. The Legacy Girls, an Andrews Sisters musical review, will provide entertainment, and an old-fashioned canteen meal will be served.

"We're hoping people dress in that era ('40s and '50s)," Ellison said. "We hope with the dance that we will hit about $25,000."

Attendees can get their hair done to reflect the style of the period at Split-Endz salon in downtown Huntley and rent discounted uniforms from the Trader John's Outpost Army Surplus store in South Elgin, she said.

"We want people to come and have fun and enjoy our veterans and enjoy the freedom that we share today," said Ellison, who has 26 veterans in her family, none of whom were killed in combat.

Event sponsors are Old World Stone, About Your Home Inspection, and Drendel's Corner Mobil. Advance tickets are available in limited quantities for $25 each through May 10.

Donations for the veterans monument project can be sent to the Huntley Area Veterans Foundation, P.O. Box 232, Huntley, IL 60142. For more information, call Ellison at (847) 669-3668 or visit huntleyveterans.org.

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