CANFIELD — Another big veterans’ project is moving into the fundraising stages, and Canfield senior Scotty Crawford is ready to pitch in.

He is preparing to collect funds to help build a Veterans Plaza on the north end of Canfield Village Green. The park would encircle the new flagpole that was dedicated on Veterans Day.

For Scotty, son of Scott and Anne Frederick Crawford, the project is not the first time he has made an impact in serving veterans.

When he was in middle school, he got engaged in helping raise funds to renovate the exterior of the War Veterans Museum on East Main Street.

“That was a project that I decided to do in third grade, but I did not start fundraising until the fall of fourth grade (2014),” he said. “The entire project cost about $85,000 with $42,800 raised in cash donations and the balance in donated services. Sam Boak was a big part of the success of that project.”

The Veterans Plaza project is expected to cost a little more than the museum project. Crawford said it is estimated at $90,000.

“I was planning to do something for the Canfield American Legion Post 177 and the VFW of Ellsworth because they were so supportive of me when I did the War Vets project,” he said. “I was considering a veteran’s walk, which was just going to be a walk to raise a few dollars and acknowledge veterans, but then I learned that they needed the money for the flag project. I was invited to a meeting at the American Legion to learn more about what they hoped to do with the newly placed flagpole on the green.”

Crawford attended the American Legion meeting in October where the project for a Veterans’ Plaza and the flagpole dedication were discussed. He agreed to help with the fundraising by reaching out to the community.

“That is a lot of money ($90,000), but you have to think about what your life is worth wand what the price of freedom is worth to you,” Crawford said. “Can we get nine people to give $10,000? Possibly. Ninety people to give $1,000? Maybe. Can we get 900 people to give $100? Probably more likely to land somewhere in the middle.”

He said the project is in the very early stage of fundraising. He is currently reaching out to the companies that placed bids on the project to see if there is any portion of their work that could be donated.

“When you are able to get the first donation, then it seems to be a little bit easier to get people, organizations and businesses to donate to the project,” Crawford said.

As for the time Crawford expects to put into the fundraising campaign, he said it is hard to come up with a number.

“All projects take time and dedication,” he said. “I would hope that we could reach our goal by May, but that is not that far away. I will not be able to hit this project full speed until January. I will go away to college in August, so I am hoping that the funds will be raised, and the project completed by then.”

He said his motivation for the project is simply to see a visible marker, flag and designated place to honor those who are serving or have served in the defense of our nation. Both of his grandfathers were veterans. Grandfather Harry Frederick, was an active member i Legion Post 177.

“I believe that the service of veterans is an important part of our history which needs to be remembered,” Crawford said. “I think giving back to the community is very important and my way of saying thank you for the freedoms which we take for granted because freedom isn’t free.”

Post 177 Commander Mike Kubitza is very appreciative to have a person like Crawford assisting in the project.

“As a veteran and commander of the Canfield American Legion Post 177 it means a lot that a young man will take to helping our area veterans,” Kubitza said. “We were successful in raising funds for our 60-foot flagpole on the north end of the village green. Our plans are to make a Veterans Plaza around that flagpole. We will need approximately $90,000 to do the project, and we have $32,000 which Scotty has already raised a portion of that money. Canfield American Legion Post 177 is grateful that Scotty is working towards making our Veterans Plaza a reality.”

Kubitza said an individual who lives out of town but grew up in Canfield stepped forward with a match challenge. He said Atty. Kenneth and Jackie Krebs and will match up to $25,000 for the Veterans Plaza project.

Donations for the Veterans’ Plaza project are tax deductible and can be sent to: Canfield American Legion Post 177, P.O. Box 53, Canfield, Ohio 44406.