By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MASON - Students hope a two-week fund-raising drive that starts today will raise support for the city's veterans memorial.

During Bucks for the Brave, students are learning U.S. history while raising money for the memorial, which will be built in front of the municipal center on Mason-Montgomery Road. It will feature pillars representing different wars, an eternal flame and wall of tears. Dedication is scheduled for November.

Three schools - Mason Heights, Western Row and Mason Intermediate - are participating in the program, which runs through May 9.

"It's a good way to remember the people who fought for our country and possibly even gave their lives," said Cody Rutowski, a fifth-grader at Mason Intermediate. "I'm glad that we have a way to honor them."

Among the activities:

• The public is invited to a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 2 at Western Row Elementary, 755 Western Row Rd. Local businesses and individuals are pledging money for every pint collected.

• Mason Intermediate students will have a Hero Day May 7. They also created a wall of veterans' names to honor past and present members of the armed forces.

• Visitors can stop at Mason Heights' Bucks for the Brave store to buy school supplies, pinwheels, bubbles and other items.

"It has brought out all kinds of questions," said Jan Bonham, gifted intervention specialist at Mason Heights and Western Row. "Some of it, of course, has revolved around the war. A lot of times, they realize how serious it is to be a veteran, and what they've gone through."

The amount raised will be announced during a June assembly. Western Row administrators have said they would dye their hair red, white and blue if their school raised $4,500.

About $265,000 has been pledged to the memorial, City Councilman Peter Beck said.

Officials also are working to reduce the project's $500,000 cost.

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com