Oakdale Veterans Memorial Advocates Speak at the State Capitol

Advocates for the were at the State Capitol Tuesday telling legislators why they’re seeking $30,000 in state bonding money for the project.

Backers of the memorial spoke before the House State Government Finance Committee and talked with Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem (R-Rochester) about the request.

“I think in this committee we have really recognized why veterans are so important to our community and our state,” Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood) told the House State Government Finance Committee Tuesday morning.

Slawik said that although the memorial will be located in Oakdale—on the grass in front of —Minnesotans beyond the city limits will benefit because they can purchase pavers in honor of any veteran, regardless of where they live.

Veterans Memorial Committee President Bill Rasmussen told the committee that at $75, their pavers are affordable. Getting the name of a loved one on a paver at the Woodbury Veterans Memorial costs $300, he said.

Oakdale’s proposed memorial will cost $60,000, Oakdale City Council member Kent Dotas told the committee. Volunteers have already raised $18,000 of that, and they’ve been promised $12,000, so the requested state money would provide the rest of the needed funds to move forward.

At $30,000, the Oakdale bonding request is the smallest one .

“Most of our numbers for bonding are really big, and this one’s really small,” Slawik said, “but the state money would put this over the top.”

Rep. Leon Lillie, a member of the committee, said he likes the matching component of the request.

“With so many veterans in the area, and so many returning,” said Lillie, a DFLer from North St. Paul, “I think it’s a nice tribute and thanks for their efforts.”