Las Cruces officials say a new memorial planned for the southern New Mexico city will be the first in the state to honor female military veterans.
The city is awaiting a blueprint of the monument. Once it's reviewed by officials, preparation of the site at the Veterans Memorial Park would follow.
Construction could take several months to complete. Supporters are hopeful a dedication ceremony could happen in March 2017.
A state appropriation of more than $406,000 will pay for the design and construction of the memorial.
It will feature six bronze statues and plaques representing the various branches of the U.S. military and each era of major conflicts. It also will include a seating area with two shade structures.
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Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com
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