Funds needed for naval monument at Fort Benton

By The Standard Staff - 05/11/2008

Organizers of a planned naval monument at Fort Benton are seeking donations to keep the tribute afloat.

The Montana Naval Monument will include a 30-foot diameter concrete pad surrounded by posts representing mooring bollards.

Each post will include a plaque with the information about each Navy or Coast Guard ship or submarine that was named for a person or place in Montana. The monument will also honor Liberty and Victory ships with Butte and area ties that served the country. These include the William Clark Liberty 0172, Conrad Kohrs Liberty 1577 and the Silver Bow Victory.

The monument will include a center stone featuring other ships with Montana ties.

The project is being organized by the Montana Naval Monument Committee.

As of late April, the committee has raised about $5,000. The entire cost of the project is estimated at $26,000.

The monument is set to be placed in the American Legion Veterans Park in Fort Benton. Though plans are still tentative, organizers hope to hold a dedication ceremony for the monument on June 28.

You can help To donate to the Montana Naval Monument, call Chairman Bill Wood at 739-4307 or write to: Montana Naval Monument, c/o William C. Wood, Box 108 Loma, MT 59460. Anyone donating more than $250 will have his or her name included on the side of the central stone of the monument. For details, visit www.montananavy.org.