Timothy Curtiss “Hold on to America the Beautiful” To Help Fund Veterans Memorial Park Planned in Cut Bank

To honor members of our community that have served in the military, the Cut Bank Beautification Committee has developed a plan for a Veterans Memorial Park to be located in the green space directly east of Glacier Electric Co-operative.

The idea of a Veterans Memorial in Cut Bank was born out of a quick conversation in front of the Glacier County Courthouse. Doug Ray and Doug Embody discussed the possibility of building a memorial for veterans. Doug Ray, an employee of Glacier Electric Co-operative, suggested the co-op might consider donating the lot they own east of the Glacier Electric building in Cut Bank. The idea was presented to the Board of the co-op and they jumped at the opportunity to donate the property. The site is ideal because it is right on main street in Cut Bank and across from the Courthouse.

Laura Poulton, who holds a degree in architecture and environmental design, designed a circular memorial surrounded by five walls to signify the five branches of the military. There will be an opportunity for people to purchase plaques with the names of veterans to be inscribed and placed on the walls of the memorial. There will also be space for a speaker and seating for assemblies that might be held at the memorial.

Ray estimates that the memorial will cost approximately $150,000 to complete, construction will not begin until the funds are raised. This is a community project, not a City of Cut Bank project and is intended to honor all veterans, regardless of their home town.

Anyone donating $500 or more to the project will have their names inscribed on paving stones that will run along the walkway from the sidewalk to the memorial. However, donations of any size are welcome and appreciated.

Timohty Curtiss, a Cut Bank native and musician has written and produced a CD which can be purchased at the following Cut Bank Businesses to help support the project:

• Drug Mart
• Billman's Home Decor and True Value
• High Wynn Grocery and Video
• Cut Bank City Hall
• Cut Bank Pioneer Press

Check out the video Tim made:

Anyone interested in making a contribution should send checks payable to Veterans Memorial to Veterans of  Foreign Wars Post #6104 or VFW Post #6104 Glacier Veterans Memorial PO Box 701; Cut Bank, MT  59427.  For questions contact Doug Ray at 406-873-5355 (email doug_ray@bresnan.net), Dale Hibl at 406-470-0149 (email d.hibl@q.com), Don Crail at 406-873-7668 or Mayor Doug Embody at 406-391-5526 (email mayor@cityofcutbank.org)