San Diego developer Papa Doug Manchester on Tuesday pledged $500,000 to support purchase of the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial site from the federal government.
The pledge was announced by former California Gov. Pete Wilson, a Marine Corps veteran and a trustee of the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
The nonprofit organization that manages the memorial purchased the property from the Defense Department in July for $1.4 million, ending years of litigation over the status of a religious symbol on federal land.
Manchester’s pledge begins a campaign to reimburse the organization for the funds used to acquire the half-acre property.
“I’m deeply honored to step forward to help assure that the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial stands in perpetuity for all San Diegans,” said Manchester. “I have prayed for this for many years, and have a true sense of spiritual fulfillment by supporting a memorial that honors the sacrifice of our veterans, the best and brightest amongst us.”
