Bingham hospital donates $20K for veteran’s memorial statue
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The following is a news release from Bingham Memorial Hospital.
BLACKFOOT — Bingham Memorial Hospital presented Bingham County with a check for $20,000 Thursday to help fund the creation of a 7-foot, bronze statue in the center of Patriot Field—the new veteran’s memorial park, located across the street from the Bingham County Courthouse downtown Blackfoot.
The statue, however, cannot be built without the additional support of local individuals and business contributions.
The one-of-a-kind statue will be sculpted by Ben Hammond—an Idaho native—and will feature a military officer handing a folded American flag to two children. The bronze statue will become the crowning achievement in Patriot Field, paying tribute to war veterans and prisoners of war from Bingham County.
“The statue will serve as an important reminder for everyone to ‘Never Forget’ those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom,” says Ladd Carter, chairman of the Bingham County commissioners. “I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to those who have sacrificed so much on our behalf. And, I’m grateful to Bingham Memorial for their on-going support and dedication to seeing Patriot Field through to completion.”
“We were pleased to present this check to Bingham County,” says Jeff Daniels, CEO of BMH. “I speak for everyone at the hospital when I say we are proud to give back to the community in this way. And, since the statue cannot be built without additional funds, I would like to challenge everyone in the community, individuals and businesses, to make a contribution of any size.”
$80,000 is still needed to have the statue built. Contributions can be made to “The Bingham Economic Development Corp.,” which is recognized as a public charity under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Donations to the Patriot Field bronze statue may be made by making checks payable to “BEDC” with a note in the memo indicating it is for the “Patriot Field Statue.” Checks can be dropped off or mailed to:
Blackfoot City Hall
157 N. St.
Blackfoot, ID 83221
or
Bingham County Courthouse
501 N. Maple
Blackfoot, ID 83221