Veterans Plaza

Gary Ricker

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Apr 29, 2026, 3:00:49 PM (3 days ago) Apr 29

to John Kefalas

Hi John,

I been in communication with Emily Land with the City for awhile. She has informed me that she is supportive of the project of the Female Veteran statue. She suggested that the next step would be for me Io put together a proposal that she can present to others up the ladder. So, here's what I submitted to her:

PROPOSAL F0R FEMALE VETERAN BRONZE STATUE

The Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado located in Spring Canyon Community Park in Fort Collins, Colorado proposes to located inside the Plaza.

After much consideration and discussion with other Veterans organizations, we have determined that the statue should be designed to honor all of the females who have served our nation. And as our mission is to honor all veterans, we feel that this statue will an appropriate addition to the Plaza.

As there are the five branches of the military and five different types of uniforms worn by those serving, we were concerned about discriminating one type of branch uniform over the others. So, the design is of a saluting female in a basic camouflaged tactical daily-wear duty uniform. A picture of the statue is included.

The statue will be bronze and approximately six feet tall on a white stone base that will be approximately three feet tall. She will be located on a mound on the east side of the amphitheater stage. It will appear that she is saluting the American Flag located on the stage. There will be a bronze plaque on the front of the base that will read: "Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado is pleased to honor the service and sacrifice of all of our nation's female military veterans".

The price is estimated to be between $60,000.00 and $70,000.00. We already have the stones, paid for, that will comprise the white stone base. We hope to find a female veteran to be the sculpture artist.

The Veterans Plaza Board of Directors have already signed off on this additional tribute to honor our veterans.

Let me know your thoughts and you'll see that I never once mentioned this as an art project.

Gary

John Kefalas

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Apr 30, 2026, 4:18:18 PM (2 days ago) Apr 30

to ga...@ricker.com, John Kefalas

Good afternoon Gary,

Thanks for sharing the female veteran statue proposal with me. Overall, it looks fine, although I did notice a few missing words. Did Emily want a formal proposal following a particular format including specific information to be included in the proposal? Do you need a letter of support from the county at this point?

John Kefalas (he/him)

County Commissioner, District 1

Commissioners' Office

200 W Oak St | 2nd Floor

PO Box 1190, Fort Collins, CO 80522-1190

W: (970) 498-7001

Cell: (720) 254-7598

jkef...@larimer.org | www.larimer.org

ga...@ricker.com

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Apr 30, 2026, 5:08:50 PM (2 days ago) Apr 30

to John Kefalas

Hey John, the proposal I gave her was just a rough draft. I would like a letter from the county to give to her. She said that she is going to have a meeting with several people in the city government within the next couple of weeks. Don't know who will be in the meeting.

What were the missing words you noticed in the rough draft?

Gary

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From: John Kefalas <kefa...@co.larimer.co.us>
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2026 2:18:51 PM
To: ga...@ricker.com <ga...@ricker.com>
Cc: John Kefalas <jkef...@larimer.org>
Subject: Re: Veterans Plaza

Gary Ricker

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May 1, 2026, 1:30:38 PM (yesterday) May 1

to John Kefalas

Hi John,

All she told me that she was going to meet with them, who ever that may be, in the next couple of weeks. I don't have a sample of a support letter. I would think it would be a very short and to the point letter saying that the Larimer County Commissioners are in agreement and support a statue in the Plaza. And you feel that it would help fulfill the mission of the Plaza and would also be a great asset to the northern Colorado veteran community in recognition of their service, sacrifices and dedication to our country. And then get you all to sign off on the letter, if you are all in agreement with this project.

When I was in the military, I never heard of a female veteran referred to as a woman veteran. It was always a female veteran.

Thanks for the help with the proposal letter.

Gary

From: "John Kefalas" <kefa...@co.larimer.co.us>
Sent: 4/30/26 3:40 PM
To: ga...@ricker.com
Subject: Re: Veterans Plaza

When would you need the letter of support? Are there previous letters of support that we can model for this one? Please review the proposed changes and proofreading edits for your consideration. I am not sure if "woman" is better than "female". I would ask a woman military member and follow their recommendation. Feel free to disregard my suggestion about changing the gender reference; not sure now whether "woman" is better than "female".

PROPOSAL F0R A ~~FEMALE~~ WOMAN VETERAN BRONZE STATUE

The Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado located in Spring Canyon Community Park in Fort Collins, Colorado proposes to located inside the Plaza. (not sure what this references; something seems missing)

After much consideration and discussion with other veterans organizations, we ~~have~~ determined that the statue should be designed to honor all of the ~~females~~ women who ~~have~~ served our nation. ~~And~~ As our mission is to honor all veterans, we feel that this statue will be an appropriate addition to the Plaza.

As there are the five branches of the military and five different types of uniforms worn by those serving, we were concerned about ~~discriminating~~ favoring one type of branch uniform over the others. So, the design is of a saluting ~~female~~ woman soldier in a basic camouflaged tactical daily-wear duty uniform. A picture of the statue is included.

The statue will be bronze and approximately six feet tall on a white stone base that will be approximately three feet tall. She will be located on a mound on the east side of the amphitheater stage. It will appear that she is saluting the American Flag located on the stage. There will be a bronze plaque on the front of the base that will read: "Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado is pleased to honor the service and sacrifice of all of our nation's ~~female~~ women military veterans".

The price is estimated to be between $60,000.00 and $70,000.00. We already have the stones, paid for, that will comprise the white stone base. We hope to find a ~~female~~ woman veteran to be the sculpture artist.

The Veterans Plaza Board of Directors has already signed off on this additional tribute to honor our veterans.