Garage sale raises $600

HARLINGEN - The Veterans Memorial Committee raised more than $600 during a garage sale Saturday to benefit the Veterans Memorial Garden.

The garage sale was held at Advance Auto Parts, 1520 W. Tyler, and was successful in attracting many passers-by.

The committee is headed by Regina Shipp, mother of Army Spec. Darrell W. Shipp, the first soldier from Harlingen to die in the Iraq war. The group is determined to build a memorial garden that would honor all fallen soldiers and veterans from the Rio Grande Valley.

Darrell Shipp was killed on Jan. 25, 2007 in Iraq when an improvised explosive device went off as his Humvee drove over the bomb.

More than $7,000 has been raised since the committee's first fundraiser in November. Fundraisers have included a barbecue plate sale at Smokey Joe's Barbecue and weekend collections outside of Wal-Mart.

The committee is proposing that the memorial, which would feature four large boulders and a mosaic American flag, be built at Pendleton Park on North 17th Street.

Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Lyssy met with committee members Friday at Pendleton Park to discuss the committee's plan.
The committee hopes to build the memorial in an area near the pond at the park.

"I'm confident this site will work out," Lyssy said Friday.

However, the committee will still have to go through the Parks and Recreation Board and City Commission for final approval of the site.

The concept of the memorial will feature large boulders, each with the name of a different war engraved on it in stainless steel. The boulders will represent the Vietnam War, Korean War, World War I and World War II.

The mosaic American flag will represent the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A fifth, smaller boulder will have Darrell Shipp's image on it.

The committee is hoping to have the project completed by Dec. 31.

Committee member John Grimes said the committee does not know exactly how much the project will cost, but he estimates it could range from $250,000 to $300,000.

"We're going to build this, no matter what it costs," Grimes said.

Regina Shipp said she is happy with the funds the committee has raised so far but is hoping to raise more from businesses and corporations.

The committee has also asked the city for funding.

Shipp said the city has agreed to support the project but no city funds have been committed to the project.

Elia Grimes, another committee member, said the garage sale was a good way to let the community know about the project as well as getting them to cooperate.

Rachel Garcia stopped at the garage sale as she drove by. Garcia said her dad, brothers and son have all served in the military.

"There's so many men here that have served (in the military) that we should do something for them," Garcia said.

Lee O'Connor, another garage sale shopper, said the memorial is a good idea because it would be something physical to remember those who have lost their lives in battle.