edford soon could see a veterans memorial at the Bedford Village Common, courtesy of the Bedford Village Common Committee.

“Richard (Poisson) really spearheaded this memorial,” said Bedford Village Common Committee member Deb Sklar. “We hope that people come to the park for its unique amenities.”

According to Sklar, The Bedford Village Common currently is in its fourth phase and will be finished by this fall.

“Without asking for recognition, veterans have made sacrifices for our way of life,” Poisson said. Poisson has served as a Bedford Village Common Committee member since last August. “We should be thankful and give some thought to what they’ve done for us.”

Proposed design components for the veterans memorial include two 25-foot flagpoles with internal halyards, top lights and satin off-white finish; a pentagon-shaped planting bed that will contain a cherry tree bordered by 6-foot sections of granite curbing; four large granite pavers honoring the four major branches of the Armed Forces – the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force – and eight pavers honoring other branches – Coast Guard, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Naval Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve.

There will be two benches installed on either side of the pad on a brick or stone dust base. A stone dust pathway will connect the memorial to the driveway to facilitate handicapped access. The design includes a line of cherry trees along the adjacent southern property line.

“(The Committee) estimates the final cost will be about $30,000, but we’re not 100 percent sure. It depends on the pricing,” Poissson said. “As of today, we have $20,000 in funds. At first, the veterans memorial wasn’t going to be a part of the park because there wasn’t enough funding, but because of a donation made by Ken and Grace Solinksy, we now need to raise about $10,000.”

“We have an appreciation for the sacrifice veterans make for us,” Grace Solinsky said.

Solinsky and her husband started a business, Insight Technology, based in Londonderry, that provides equipment such as tactical weapon lights and laser systems to U.S. soldiers. Solinsky said no one in the family served in the armed forces, but that she is looking forward to seeing the memorial.

The park is located off the intersection of Route 101 and Bell Hill Road.

Phase I of the park included permitting, design, a parking lot and land clearing and was financed by the town. The remaining phases depend on a public/private partnership.

Phase II includes the construction of a traditional bandstand, pathways and wetland crossings in the western section of the park. Phases III and IV will include a skating pond and a warming hut, based on the design of the old Bedford train depot, and amenities such as arbors, birdhouses, gardens, landscaping and benches.

“We hope to have the memorial finished by the end of the summer,” Poisson said.

Residents and businesses can make donations by filling out forms online at www.bedfordnh.org.