Walkathon Planned for War Memorial
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Members of the Simi Valley Knights of Columbus have joined a national effort to build a World War II veterans’ memorial and will conduct a walkathon Saturday to help raise the $100 million needed for the project.
“We are the last ones to get it and the first ones that should be recognized for our endeavors to win the war,” said Dick Hlebesko, a veteran of the war and member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10049.
Hlebesko, 75, will lead the VFW’s color guard at the opening ceremonies for the fund-raiser Saturday at Rancho Tapo Community Park.
The walkathon will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Organizers hope to raise $10,000 and expect 500 people to participate, said Earl Todd, a Vietnam War veteran and member of the local Knights of Columbus chapter.
There will also be refreshments and a fly-by of vintage World War II planes.
The monument will be built in Washington, between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. Groundbreaking is scheduled to begin this year on Veterans Day in November. Hlebesko plans to be there when ground is broken.
Registration for the walkathon costs $10 and additional money will be raised based on pledges participants earn by walking the 5K route.
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