Sunnyside — The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee voted Nov. 13 to recommend $10,000 to the American Legion to finish four granite walls at Jerry Taylor Veterans Plaza and to help fund a public dedication next year.

American Legion representatives gave a multi-year account of the plaza’s construction and community involvement, describing donated materials and volunteer labor that carried the project through several phases. "We first started on that circle at the very north end where the three-sided cement feature is," the presenter said, recounting early walls and community support that followed the 2008 recession. The committee noted that the project is largely complete and that the funds would finish the last black granite walls and underwrite a dedication event.

Committee members praised the memorial’s quality and suggested ways to turn the completed plaza into a recurring visitation draw — examples included programming for Patriot’s Day, Veterans Day, and July 4 events, and partnerships with school ROTC or valley-wide veteran and museum organizations. Tom Denley said the facility is “a magnificent facility,” and urged the Legion to use the site for large-scale commemorations that could attract visitors and overnight stays.

The committee’s recommendation includes an expectation that organizers will coordinate at least one major public dedication and provide a post-event report showing attendance and any lodging impact. The recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for final approval and contracting.