By his swift pen stroke in 2000, former President Bill Clinton signed legislation that opened the doors for the executive offices of the Delray Beach-based Disabled Veterans’ Life Memorial Foundation Inc. to fundraise, put out bids for architect competition and make a site selection in Washington D.C. Now some nine years later the foundation says it has completed 21 of the needed steps to establish a memorial in the nation’s capital. The foundation’s Chief Operating Officer Rick Fenstermacher said the foundation is one of 52 veterans' organizations in the nation.

“The disabled veterans are an unbelievable and amazing group of people. From day one of this project we wanted to be in the footprint of the U.S. Capitol so legislators see the importance of supporting disabled veterans,” Fenstermacher said.

The foundation’s team is made up of 18 members participating in roles from fundraising to architecture. Delray Beach is home to the executive offices of the foundation at 6290 Linton Blvd. With such a huge veteran population in southern Palm Beach County, the strategic move of putting the executive offices in Delray Beach has paid off. Last year, the net income on the project was $10,842,161, net assets were $14,623,808 and fundraising costs were $1,285,311. Fenstermacher said the foundation needs to raise about $4.9 million, one of the last three steps.

“We’re working hard on these final steps. This memorial is for ordinary people that made extraordinary sacrifices and it’s the only memorial in Washington D.C. for the living,” Fenstermacher said.

For more information or to donate to the memorial call Disabled Veterans’ Life Memorial Foundation Inc. at 561-637-1525 or visit www.avdlm.org