BOONE, Iowa — The Boone American Legion Post 56 has entered into a major fundraising project. The Legion is joining forces with the Boone VFW Francis Steele Post 817, and the local Marine Corps League to build a new Boone Area Veterans Center.

“We had a building donated to us in downtown Boone, we demolished the building last fall and now we’re in the process of raising money to build a new 14,000 square-foot building,” said fundraising chair, Fred Greiner, of Boone. “It will become the meeting place for the VFW, the American Legion, and the Marine Corps League.”

The $5 million project will be paid for through fundraising over the next three years.

The Center already has a fundraising website to give out information about the effort.

“This building was put up as an actual log cabin,” said Louis Wolfgram of Boone, who is the past Post 56 Commander. “This building’s got problems so we’re hoping to get a new building.” 

The plan is to make the new building available to all veterans in Boone County.

“They will conduct their meetings there, but it will also be open to the public,” said Greiner. “We’ll have a large venue for like bingo that we’re having here tonight.”