DeLand man wants to build WWII memorial

BEACON PHOTO/AL EVERSON
Looking to preserve a legacy — Harold London hopes to transform this vacant site around a retention pond on the DeLand Municipal Airport into a World War II memorial and park dedicated to veterans. London hopes to present his idea to the DeLand City Commission next month, and has already begun raising money. The site is at the corner of Biscayne and Flightline boulevards. London is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

DRAWING COURTESY HAROLD LONDON
Ideas on paper — Harold London made this sketch of his idea for a World War II memorial to be located on the DeLand Municipal Airport. He has also commissioned an artist to draw a color rendition.

By Al Everson
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted May 20, 2009 - 8:50:20am

A DeLand man wants moral and financial support in his bid to build a World War II memorial.

Almost two-thirds of a century have elapsed since the end of the greatest conflict in world history. Harold London proposes to honor those Americans — especially local residents — who served in that war.

London wants to build the memorial, complete with a monument, flags, a walkway, benches and a fountain, on the DeLand Municipal Airport, not far from the DeLand Naval Air Station Museum.

"It's just been on my mind for a couple of years now. I've been just driving by there on business, and said, it will be a good place for a memorial and park," he told The Beacon, when asked how he had come up with the concept. "It has nothing to do with the Naval Air Station Museum or any other group. I'm doing this as an individual."

The site London proposes for the DeLand World War II Memorial and Veterans Park is approximately half an acre along Flightline and Blscayne boulevards.

"The city has to approve this," London said. "It's city property, and it will be operated by the city."

Before he deeds the memorial to the city, however, London must develop it, and he must somehow find the money to build it.

There is little hope of cash from the city treasury. London said he pitched his idea for the World War II memorial to City Manager Michael Pleus, and came away with a polite no.

Pleus summed up the situation in a memorandum to the City Commission: "Although this is a great idea, I had to advise him that because of our budget constraints the City could not take on a project such as this. I told him this memorial might possibly be considered in the future."

To raise money, London will do something that has been used quite successfully elsewhere.

"I want to sell bricks," he said. "I've already got 20 to 30 [people] interested in buying the bricks."

Each brick would be engraved with the name of a family member or friend who served in the U.S. armed forces or made some other contribution to the war effort.

Those "other" contributions might include civilians who were test pilots or helped develop parachutes, as well as those who worked in civil defense or served as spotters on the beach, watching for enemy submarines.

While World War II would be the dominant theme on the property, London said the park will pay tribute to all veterans and all services and citizens who served our nation.

"That includes everyone," said London.

The bricks with the names on them, said London, would line the walkway around the fountain. The bricks would be sold for $100 each.

Asked if he has sought support from posts of veterans organizations, or civic clubs or patriotic and fraternal groups, London said he has not yet made such an appeal. A call for grass-roots support will come shortly.

"There are enough veterans and organizations and groups that will pull this together," London predicted.

London's commitment to the proposed memorial is such, he said, he has hired an artist to make a color drawing of what he has in mind. He may present his proposal to the DeLand City Commission in June, asking for the elected body's permission to develop the memorial on the airport property.

"The first thing I've got to do is to get the city to approve it," London said. "I'll raise the funds."

— al@beacononlinenews.com

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