The memorial, set to be placed at Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery, was approved by the Chapel Hill Town Council in April 2013.
The town’s Veterans Committee has been planning its design since the approval. The committee is made up of four Chapel Hill residents and the town’s parks and recreation department.
“We’re now entering the raising funds phase,” said committee member and veteran Lee Heavlin.
Heavlin said the committee has raised a few thousand dollars, but that it is not enough to begin construction — and the quality of the memorial will depend on the contributions of residents, since no funding will come from the government.
Heavlin said he hopes the committee can raise enough money to go above and beyond their initial objective.
“If we do very well on fundraising, it’ll be a little bit better than we expect,” he said.
“We’ll have enough leftover for perpetual care.”
Heavlin said once construction begins, the memorial will take roughly six months to complete and will be located within an existing brick plaza at the center of the cemetery, which will be renovated as funds dictate.