Traverse City Building a Memorial to the U.S. Coast Guard

Traverse City is building a memorial to the U.S. Coast Guard.  The northwestern Michigan city will begin work on the monument in Mini Park in April.

The helicopter shaped sculpture will sit in the center of a circular brick paver pad and honor the military branch's personnel.

The committee asked students to submit designs for the monument in a contest several years ago.  Committee members chose a design by metal artist Matt Coffey and Mallory Heiges, who was a Traverse City West Senior High School student in 2013.

Traverse City is among 21 municipalities in the U.S. that Congress has designated as a Coast Guard City.  Here's more from the Associated Press.