The Mississippi Marine Corps League is spearheading a fundraising effort for a monument it plans to erect and dedicate this summer along U.S. 82 near Itta Bena.
The monument will be in honor of the 15 Marines and 1 Navy Corpsman who were killed in the KC 130 plane crash on the Sunflower and Leflore County line last July.
This comes after the legislature recently passed a bill that will rename a section of U.S. Highway 82 in Leflore County Yanky 72 Memorial Highway in honor of the troops.
The estimated cost for the monument alone is $80,000, along with an additional $20,000 needed for landscaping and expenses for the July 14 dedication day.
The monument itself will consist of a 30-foot diameter concrete base finished with terrazzo.
Terrazzo is said to be durable for sometimes centuries.
The shape of the KC-130T and the two insignia will grace the center of the monument.
The dedication of the monument will culminate in the start of an 850-mile ruck that will end at Camp Lejeune. Three of the wives of the fallen soldiers will participate in the ruck. More information can be found on this at http://www.brothersinarmsfoundation.org/mrmm/.
Donations for the monument itself can be made at http://mcldeptms.org/. For more information about donating, contact Brenda Grubb 662 207 3010.
Deadline for donations is March 30.
