Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Now Accepting Online Donations Benefitting the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial

PR Newswire

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 24, 2016 /PRNewswire - USNewswire/ -- With Memorial Day quickly approaching, the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) has added a new opportunity for individuals or businesses to make an online donation to the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund. Donations via the online application at donate.dmva.pa.gov will be used to preserve the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial, located at the federal Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Lebanon County.

"Unfortunately, donations to the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund have dwindled to less than $40,000 over the past five years and the memorial is in need of approximately $2.5 million in cosmetic and structural repairs," said Brig. Gen. Tony Carrelli, acting adjutant general for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "We encourage individuals and businesses to consider making an online donation to help maintain this hallowed structure for generations to come."

Maintained by the DMVA, the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial stands 107 feet high and 360 feet long. Its design evokes "the ruins of a war-torn building centered in a land of solemnity." Designed by Cee Jay Frederick Associates, West Chester, Pa., the granite, stone, and concrete composition was dedicated Oct. 7, 2001 and cost $6.2 million to construct. The Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial is the first in the commonwealth to honor veterans of all eras from the Revolutionary War forward and it is the largest veterans' memorial located in any of the 133 national cemeteries operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

"The Memorial stands as a lasting tribute to those who served our state and nation in times of war and peace," Carrelli added.

Since December 2015, donors have been able to make online donations to the Veterans' Trust Fund (VTF) and the Military Family Relief Assistance Program (MFRAP). Additional funds benefitting veterans will be added to the online application in the near future. All that is needed is internet access to make a donation and the online application, which features responsive design technology to make it accessible on mobile devices and computers, accepts MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express.

"Gifts of any amount are appreciated, and donors can be assured that their online donation is secure, tax-deductible and 100 percent will go toward maintenance and repair of the Memorial or providing services and supporting Pennsylvania's veterans and their families," Carrelli stated.

In addition to the new fund, the donation application now features a Virtual Donor Wall.

"When an online donation is made, donors may choose to enter honoree information and a plaque in their honor will be displayed on the Virtual Donor Wall by the end of the next business day. Online plaques will show that donations have been made: 'in honor of', 'in memory of' or 'on behalf of' someone," said Carrelli. "This is one additional way we have worked to make your online donation more meaningful."

DMVA also makes available Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial replicas for $15 as well as in-ground cruciforms ranging from $500 to $2,000. One hundred percent of the purchase price goes to the PA Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund. Order forms for both may be found on the DMVA website.

"The Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial replicas make great gifts for that special veteran in your life, or serve as a memento of your visit to the memorial and cruciforms serve as a lasting and visual tribute to those visiting the Memorial," said Brian Natali, chief of DMVA's division of veterans services and programs. 

An annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the memorial at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 29, rain or shine.

Those interested in making a tax-deductible contribution to help preserve the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial can send a check or money order made payable to "Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund" and mail it to: DMVA Office of Veterans Affairs, Bldg. 0-47, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA 17003.

You can follow DMVA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/padmva or Twitter at www.twitter.com/padmva.

MEDIA CONTACT: Joan Nissley, 717-861-8720

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