The Borough of Manheim and the Manheim Veterans Memorial Committee (MVMC) have announced that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has awarded a $150,000 grant for construction of the planned veterans' memorial plaza in Manheim Veterans Memorial Park. The MVMC assisted with the submission of the grant application and is providing the matching funding required by the state.

The memorial will honor residents of Manheim as well as Penn and Rapho townships who served in the military during peace or war. It will include flagpoles for the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Space Force standards along with the Merchant Marines of World War II. The plaza will also consolidate the various memorials already around town to provide an easily accessible site where people can reflect on the service of all veterans.

The MVMC officially began its capital campaign on July 4, 2021, with a goal of raising $300,000. It is collaborating with Manheim's American Legion Post 419 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5956 and auxiliary to raise funds for the memorial. All proceeds raised will go to the memorial and operating expenses.

Donations are still being accepted and Manheim-area residents are encouraged to join the Brick Brigade by purchasing a memorial brick, which will be placed in the plaza's Path of Honor. Any funds raised beyond the final construction costs will be used to establish an endowment for the memorial's ongoing maintenance.

George Schwartz, chairman of the committee and a retired U.S. Army brigadier general, said a groundbreaking is planned for next year.

The MVMC is composed of unpaid volunteers and is an unincorporated, 501(c)(3) nonprofit group registered with the state as a charitable organization. The MVMC's motto is "Honor Their Service." For more information about the committee and its efforts to honor the service of Manheim-area residents, search for "Manheim Veterans Memorial" on Facebook or visit https://manheimveteransmemorial.org/.