The Howard County Veterans Foundation will hold an opening and dedication of the Howard County Veterans and Military Families Monument on Thursday, May 14, at 11 a.m. The ceremony will take place at the site of the new monument at Vivian C. “Millie” Bailey Park in downtown Columbia.

“What started as an idea became a vision and today is a reality,” said Robert Gillette, president of the Howard County Veterans Foundation. “We invite everyone to join us, our many supporters and our local heroes for a ceremony of honor and remembrance as we celebrate this.”

During the event, veteran service organization and community leaders will speak and participate in a ribbon cutting, and a Marine Corps detail will raise the flag over the monument for the first time. Following the ceremony, Mission BBQ will serve a picnic-style lunch with dessert provided by the Howard County Chamber of Commerce.

Gillette; Calvin Ball, Howard County executive; Bill Milner, commander of VFW Post 7472; Dr. Clarence Lam, Maryland state senator; and Paul Rivers, member of the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Affairs, will speak at the event.