Memorial to veterans discussed for Coulee area

American Legion #157 Commander Jim Brakebill spoke to the Regional Board of Mayors March 8 about wanting to create a veterans’ memorial for the Coulee area. 

Brakebill emphasized the idea for a memorial was only in the earliest stages, and he wanted to involve the mayors and communities so that people could share their input on the project.

Various possibilities were discussed in brief, including the options of having lighted flags for the different branches of the military, and of selling bricks with the names of service members printed on them and either used as a pathway or built into a wall.

“I’m completely behind it,” Elmer City Mayor Jesse Tillman said, offering to help with his concrete business, Coulee Concrete. 

Brakebill said he’d like to find someone to create artists’ renderings of different options for the project.

Brakebill told The Star on Monday that he spoke with Grand Coulee Mayor Paul Townsend about a possible location for the memorial, but that it would need to be approved by the city council there before he would disclose specifics on that location.

Those interested in speaking to Brakebill about the project can reach him by calling the American Legion’s cell phone number at 509-771-5796.