CORNELIUS – The town holds a Gala of Honor to benefit the Cornelius Veterans Monument at 6 p.m. April 7 at the Havana Banquet & Ballroom, at 8325 Copely Drive. The evening will include dinner and cocktails, dancing, a silent auction and a short program featuring special guests John Washam, commander of the American Legion Post 86, as well as Allison White, E4 Senior Airman. Both will reflect on their service to and how it affects their lives today. Paul Cameron, news anchor for WBTV, the Herald Weekly’s news partner, is the MC for the event.

Tickets for the black-tie-optional event are $100, and can be purchased online, at www.cornelius.org, or at town hall. A limited number of tickets are available.

The monument, a wall with the names of veterans from Cornelius, is estimated to cost $165,000, and the town still needs to raise about $51,000.