ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — A million dollar park, honoring veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice, was supposed to be built and open to visitors this Memorial Day, but WFTV found out a funding issue has delayed the project.
"When we first got started, there's many things that we didn't know, that we had to know," said Retired Army Lieutenant Jerry Pierce, who leads the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation.
Pierce had hoped to have the Veterans Memorial Park opened by Monday. He says the volunteer board of directors, made up of former military men and women, has had trouble moving toward it's $3 million fundraising goal.
"I soon learned in fundraising there is no deadline because it's up to the donor when they feel in their heart that they want to contribute," said Pierce.
The memorial park will consist of an amphitheater, archway, and monuments carved with the names of the 3,000 Central Florida service members killed in the line of duty. It will sit adjacent to the sprawling new VA Medical Center being constructed at Lake Nona.
Pierce says it will be one of a kind, a tranquil, solemn place for people to honor fallen soldiers.
After hiring a professional fundraiser, Pierce says they've raised $400,000, including $10,000 from Ross Perot and $50,000 from Starling Chevrolet.
"Each one has stepped forward to contribute and none of us are earning any money or getting any compensation," explained Pierce.
WFTV
