Mission Statement
Our mission is to create and maintain, in perpetuity, a suitable memorial to honor and preserve the unselfish contributions by the men and women of our military services.

Location
The memorial site is located at Purgatory Creek Park at Technology Drive and Prairie Center Drive. It will be built on the south end of an existing lawn embankment which provides open views to the adjacent waterfront and Mayor Jean Harris Bridge. The main entrance to the memorial will be located on a sight line axis with the existing garden fountain which helps call attention from the central portion of the park.

Cost
The total projected cost is $421,000, with that goal almost complete. Fundraising efforts are continuing and the ground should be broken soon. Though the City of Eden Prairie has donated the park land for the memorial the money is being raised through a grassroots effort by citizens and businesses working in a partnership.

Projected Costs

Surveying Site	$2,500
Excavation	Donated
Concrete work (paving, retaining walls, etc)	$138,500
Furnishings (flagpoles, benches, etc)	$21,000
Landscaping	Donated
Sculptures (service to country & peace)	$110,000
Cold Spring Granite	$89,000
Design & Engineering	$33,000
Marketing & Sales material	$5,000
Dedication Ceremony	$4,000
Contingency (6%)	$20,000
TOTAL	$421,000

Budget
The budget for fundraising should not exceed 2.5% of total cost of memorial of $7,500.00. Items that have or will be purchased are: marketing DVD, layout and printing of sale brochure, telephone voice mail, website, letterhead, postage, business cards, marketing booklets, and other sales items.

Design
World class sculptor Neil Brodin, a Vietnam-era veteran, of Brodin Studios will design and build the service to country and world peace bronze features of our memorial. SRF Consulting Group designed the memorial and Blackstone Contractors will oversee the project. The memorial will be built out of local Mesabi Black Granite provided by Cold Spring Granite. We are proud to have Minnesota based companies and local talent working together to bring a great project to completion for our community.

Description
The memorial entrance is highlighted with flag poles flying the American, Minnesota and MIA/POW (Missing in Action/Prisoner of War) flags. Before entering the memorial space, the walk slopes down a slight gradient into a forty-five foot radial paved area. A low concrete wall encircles a seating area and provides a sense of enclosure to the memorial space. The “Court of Honor” is surrounded by six concrete columns displaying bronze emblems representing each branch of military. A colored band of concrete paving extends from the base of each column and is in scripted with a creed defining the ideals of each branch of military. The vertical wall surface will display quotations describing sacrifice of veterans and the purpose and meaning of conflict with the goal of preserving the ideals of our society. The space will be an inviting area easily used for special event gatherings as well as to commemorate Veterans Day and Memorial Day events.

Located in the center of the “Court of Honor” the focal point is a sculpture representing the sacrifice and dedication of veterans. It would be positioned on a raised platform of prominence. A planting bed of shrubs and flowers provides a backdrop for the sculpture and providing a place for quiet reflection for visitors.

As the visitor moves through the space, another sculpture is dedicated to world peace as the ultimate goal Veterans strive to achieve as a result of conflict. The form is centered in a smaller radial circle enclosed with seat walls and text quotations describing the desire to achieve and maintain peace and freedom around the world. A backdrop of ornamental trees and shrub plantings provide a backdrop for this piece and the surrounding seating wall areas. Here the visitor can also take in open views to the adjacent waterfront and wetland area.

A sloping wall connection to the perimeter wetland path system on the south end of the memorial provides an exit and alternate entry to the space as well as lawn area connections on the east and west sides of the memorial.

Donations
All donations are tax-deductible as directed by the U.S. Treasury as the Eden Prairie Foundation is registered as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) and also as a public charity under section 509 (a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. See Donations section of the website for further details.

Honoring Veterans
Each year we honor specific Eden Prairie veterans at our annual Veterans Day Celebration. Members of the community are encouraged to nominate a veteran to our selection committee via email or U.S. Mail with a deadline of July 1st. The only requirements are that the military service must have been for the United States and they need to have an Eden Prairie connection. We encourage nominees to have combat zone experience, with preference given to those killed or wounded in action, though not required.

Legal Name
Eden Prairie Veterans Memorial Committee

Designated Fund Agreement
Eden Prairie Foundation

Address
Eden Prairie Veterans Memorial
8080 Mitchell Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344-4485