The city of Pleasanton and the Pleasanton Veterans Memorial Committee will hold a brief groundbreaking ceremony for a new Veterans Memorial at Pioneer Cemetery at 1 p.m. today.

The memorial will be completed by late October and in time for a planned dedication event on Saturday, Nov. 12.

A fund-raising effort now underway has raised just over $240,000 toward the veterans' organizations' goal of $301,000. So far, the more than 200 donors have contributed about 80% of the goal.

One of those to be remembered at the new memorial will be U.S. Army Sgt. Richard Covert, who would have turned 65 June 17. Sgt. Covert was killed on Feb. 14, 1971 in Quang Tri Province during the Vietnam War.

He is one of at least 21 Pleasanton area residents who died while serving the country during military conflict. These 21 names will be inscribed on the memorial to be constructed this summer at Pioneer Cemetery.

Information about the memorial can be found at: http://www.pleasantonveteransmemorial.com/index.html/