It’s a Labor of Love
Alexandria’s Veterans Memorial Park was one of AMS Digital’s most gratifying projects.
Amplifying a Nonprofit’s Dream
Renderings of the proposed design, courtesy Widseth architect Greg Bohl.
Over the years, AMS Digital has had the privilege of supporting many great nonprofit organizations across Minnesota. Whether uplifting already established organizations or assisting in the development of new ones, each project has impacted our team. One of the most significant projects to impact us was the Veterans Memorial Park (VMP) in Alexandria.
As of July 1, the VMP committee has transfered their duties and responsibilities over to another local group, the Douglas County Veteran Services Office. Although this shift concludes our marketing partnership and the website AMS Digital made for the park, the VMP Committee’s mission of memorializing veterans continues on, thanks to a successful campaign that was our privilege to help build.
The goal of projects such as these.
A Bold Vision Over a Cup of Coffee
Promoting a new non-profit with a well-defined concept can be daunting, especially when the final goal is the construction of a $1.5 million dollar community park. When first meeting with the members of the VMP committee, everyone agreed that a specific brand was necessary for the ultimate success of their mission. It was over this humble cup of coffee that AMS Director Stephen Henning coined the phrase most associated with their organization.
“When I first met with these guys, their passion for honoring veterans and their families through this project was very apparent,” said AMS Director, Steve Henning.
“The words ‘let no veteran be forgotten’ just popped into my head. Those words struck a chord, and soon became the official slogan. It’s cool to see they’re ultimately being used on the memorial wall itself. It truly reflects the heart of this project, and the veterans behind it.”
Organizing a Consistent and Engaging Campaign
In this day and age of advanced technology, the first step of establishing an organization begins with a well thought out and regularly updated website. The hub for any brand is a website that remains current with the latest news about upcoming projects and promotions. This was accomplished with blog posts that provided information regarding both the park and important veteran history.
Along with making the website attractive for both veterans and visitors alike, launching a straightforward space for everyone interested in the park was crucial. As the park was to be funded by generous donors, we created an easy to use online financial tool for collecting contributions.
Next, AMS staff began designing branded graphics that would be used to develop a meaningful social media presence. Cultivating hashtags on both Facebook and Instagram, VMP saw great success when it came to their social media footprint. This piece particularly came into play when the committee received a donated car to be auctioned off for procuring additional funds towards the park.
Wielding the Power of Video
Videos were used at every step of the park’s development. Before there was a Memorial there was a vision, and not much else. Through video interviews, we could show the planning committee’s passion and dream, and begin a narrative that appealed to the broader audience. Personal insights from veterans, community members, and the architect as well as the concept renderings of the proposed park began to drive the fundraising efforts.
AMS documented the Groundbreaking Ceremony, and continued to use video to show the evolving status of the park’s many features. Beautiful drone shots of the completed memorial combined with powerful effect in this summary tour of Alexandria’s Veterans Memorial Park, and its impact on area residents. The creative team at AMS Digital are very proud of our involvement in this video, along with the others we created for the publicity of the park..
The Beginning of a Long-Standing Legacy
No veteran should be forgotten.
Each step of the way, AMS has had the pleasure of working side by side with dedicated veterans and other supportive individuals throughout the community. Helping see this project through to completion has been a labor of love that we are honored to have supported.
Speaking on the committee’s experience of working with AMS, VMP Secretary James ‘Jim’ Conn states that our “emotional involvement in this remarkable project for our community was palpable” from the moment it began in Traveler’s Inn long ago. He goes on to say that the video production we created for the park will “solidify the Veterans Memorial Park as a targeted destination by visitors far and wide.”
A permanent fixture on the national map for veterans everywhere, this public park remains a place for reflection and healing to anyone visiting the memorial. As it stands for generations to come, AMS Digital continues to have pride in the part we played in turning this dream into a reality. It is our sincerest hope that the park, like its tagline, forever allows no veteran to be forgotten.
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