WAL-MART TO RAISE MONEY FOR WWII MEMORIAL

The nation's Wal-Mart stores lead an effort to raise the remaining $40 million to build a $100 million national memorial for World War II veterans in Washington.

Wal-Mart, which operates about 2,800 stores nationwide, kicked off the fund drive Monday.

Locally, the fund drive kicked off with a ceremony at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, with state Rep. Mary Kasten, a Republican, and other dignitaries on hand for the ceremony."Our goal for our store is to raise $10,000," said Chris Bohr, store manager.

Nationwide, Wal-Mart hopes to raise the $40 million by Memorial Day.

Bohr said the money will come from the discount chain's customers and employees, as well as other businesses.

Bohr said his store will hold some fund-raising events, but those have yet to be finalized.

The kickoff was designed to generate public awareness of the project. "We want it to be a community effort," he said.

Bohr said veterans groups nationwide already have raised $60 million for the memorial.

It would be dedicated to the 16 million Americans who served in the armed forces during World War II and the more than 400,000 who died, as well as the millions who supported the war effort from home.

It's proposed that the memorial be built at the Rainbow Pool site at the east end of the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

Contributions will be accepted at the store's customer service desk, Bohr said. Supporters also are encouraged to sign the store's large card saluting veterans.

Wal-Mart also is encouraging customers to bring in pictures of World War II veterans. The store will copy the pictures and put them on display.

Herb Nance of Cape Girardeau fought in the Army during World War II. A member of several local veterans groups, Nance said the memorial is needed."It's a good thing. They have them for everybody else," Nance said of the nation's memorials to the veterans of other wars.

Nance said a memorial would help keep alive the accomplishments of World War II veterans.

Too many Americans today have no appreciation of World War II veterans and what they endured in the global conflict.

Nance is optimistic the local Wal-Mart store will be able to meet its goal of $10,000. More money than that has been raised for other causes, he said.