HONORING LINCOLN'S PROMISE
Dayton VA Medical Center - Lincoln Statue
President Abraham Lincoln made a promise in 1865 to “...care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan...” and he signed the legislation to establish a system of soldier’s homes to care for veterans. The Dayton Soldier’s Home was one of the three initially authorized and it is known today as the Dayton VA Medical Center.
In 2018, AVHC – in collaboration with the Lincoln Society of Dayton – planned to honor this promise and created a project to erect a bronze statue of President Lincoln on the Dayton VAMC campus. The purpose of this memorial is to provide a place for reflection and healing, opportunities for educating students and future generations, and to create a national tourist destination point complementing the Dayton National VA History Center Museum and the Dayton National Cemetery for the Miami Valley.
PHASE ONE: The Statue
$225,000 was raised to create the bronze statue of Lincoln and it was completed in 2020. This statue was created by Ohio artist, Mike Major and it is breathtaking. When you stand in front of it and look upon Lincoln’s face, you can feel the satisfaction in his expression knowing that veterans who served their country would soon have a place to receive vital services and the space to heal.
PHASE TWO: The Statue Base & Surrounding Landscaping
Now the statue needs to be placed on the Dayton VAMC campus for all to see. This next phase which involves building the base and installing the surrounding landscaping began in February 2024. The Unveiling of the Lincoln Statue is scheduled for May 22, 2024 at 11 AM.
The Phase 2 goal was to raise $250,000 by Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2023. Once $200,000 was collected, a private donation of $50,000 was made to reach the final goal.
Your support during this phase to finalize the beautiful space and put Lincoln on display was greatly appreciated, but more is needed.
Please make your donation here on the AVHC website (see below) or you may mail your donation to AVHC Lincoln Statue – P.O. Box 3723 – Dayton, OH – 45401.
We thank you in advance for your generous support.
For questions, please call Mr. Bill DeFries, Lincoln Statue Campaign Chairman at 937-286-4624 or email at wed@copp.com.
While the Dayton VA Center will donate the land and provide much of the infrastructure, the actual cost of the statue will be paid for with donations and monies raised by the AVHC, which is a private 501 c3, and not a part of the VA Center or the Federal government.
DONATE
We continue our fundraising efforts for the construction of the site and placement of the Lincoln Statue. Please consider helping out – a donation in any amount will help honor Lincoln’s Promise.
Donor Levels
President’s Circle – $15,000 or more
- Bronze maquette of the Lincoln statue
- Private VIP reception with artist Mike Major
- Dayton VAMC commemorative gift
President’s Cabinet-$10,000
- Framed print of Lincoln by Lloyd Ostendorf
- Private VIP reception with artist Mike Major
- Dayton VAMC commemorative gift
Senator – $5,000
- Private VIP reception with artist Mike Major
- Dayton VAMC commemorative gift
Representative-$1,000
- Dayton VAMC commemorative gift
Ambassador – $500
- Your name on a plaque at the statue site
Friends of Lincoln – $5.00 to $499.00
Ways to Donate
You can make a contribution directly online using our donation form (see below).
Pledge Letter
You may also pledge using our Letter of Intent. Click the link below to open the PDF file.
