For Immediate Release
March 31, 2009
Contact: Dennis Sheppard
(717) 571-2268 or dmsheppard1949@yahoo.com
 
Announcement of the Silver Springs Veterans Memorial Committee Open Design Project
 
Silver Spring Township, PA – The Silver Spring Township Veterans Memorial Committee is pleased to announce its Open Design Project. This project offers an opportunity for the public to design a Township veteran’s memorial to honor veterans and serving military members. A design application packet will be available starting March 25, 2009, and designs are due by September 16th, 2009.  Please (Click Here) to download a design application packet. A link will be available on the townships website, www.silverspringstwp-pa.gov.  The memorial is slated for commissioning in 2011.
 
 "We're pleased to launch the open design project,” said Kurt Minnich committee chairperson “The committee has put a lot of effort into making this happen and we’re looking forward to reviewing the various design submissions. The committee is looking for a memorial that envisions the honor and sacrifice of Silver Spring Township veterans and current military members as well as those nationally. “

A site for the memorial has not been chosen at this time so entrants can work their design to fit any of the townships parks or other sites within the township.  Young and old, students and professionals, individuals and businesses, or basically anyone across the United States is encouraged to submit a design.  "This Open Design is a way to engage artists, designers and others from the creative community to envision a memorial to honor the service and sacrifice of military personnel," said Dennis Sheppard, the committees Public Relations chairperson.  The intent of the memorial is to inspire the community to service beyond self while honoring U.S. military veterans as an example to follow.

The Silver Spring Township Veterans Memorial has been the vision of Township Supervisor Vince DiFilippo who first presented the idea to the Township’s Board of Supervisors.  The Board of Supervisors then established the Veterans Memorial Committee to explore the idea of constructing a memorial to recognize Township veterans who have served in any of the five branches of the military.  The memorial will be built through fund raising and services donated by local businesses.  No municipal funds will be used for this project.  Committee members are Kurt Minnich, Clarence Bouchat, Jennifer Printy, Dennis Sheppard, Deborah Snyder and Byrd Troutman. The committee also receives administrative support from Terri Martini, Assistant Township Manager.  Township Supervisor DiFilippo is the liaison between the Board of Supervisors and the Veterans Memorial Committee.  “I am proud of the hard work and dedication this committee has put into the memorial project,” said DiFilippo.
 
If you do not have access to the web you can send a written request for an application to the following address:
 
Request for Open Design Concepts for Veterans Memorial
Silver Spring Township
6475 Carlisle Pike
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

Attn: Terri Martini, Assistant Township Manager