WINNSBORO – An effort to erect a memorial to Fairfield County service members who gave their lives in World War II took a step forward Monday night when County Council approved matching funds for the project, headed by Winnsboro resident Bill Haslett. Council OK’d $10,000 in funds to match what Haslett said he would raise to place the memorial in Mt. Zion Memorial Park in Winnsboro.
Haslett said Tuesday that he plans to raise $30,000 total for the project, which will include the memorial, flags and benches. Haslett said that he will also be seeking $5,000 from the Town of Winnsboro. He said he has a bid of $20,000 from Phillips Granite in Winnsboro to construct the monument, but is still looking for a designer.
Haslett said he is giving himself a 60-day window in which to raise the funds, and that he hopes to have the memorial up this fall. An account will be set up this week, he said, at First Citizens Bank where donors can make contributions to the Fairfield World War II Memorial Fund. Any contribution is appreciated, he said, or donors can give at four different levels – the Individual level, at $37 (that’s $1 for each Fairfield County native who lost his life in the war); the Utah Beach level, at $500; the Omaha Beach level, at $1,000; and the D-Day Liberation level, at $5,000 or more. Haslett will also be selling memorial bricks at $200 each.
Anyone wishing to contribute can reach Haslett directly at 803-815-1011.
