DENVER -- It's been nearly 17 years since the Colorado Veterans Monument was erected outside the state Capitol, and it is now beginning to show its age.

Veterans said the monument that helps heal lives needs help healing itself.

Come rain or shine, Tim Drago tends to the monument every week.

A Vietnam veteran, he founded the memorial in 1990 while coming to terms with his own past.

"Monuments and memorials are built to heal people,” Drago said. “That's why they're important. And they work. It healed me."

It was only natural that after two decades of dedication to the monument, he was the first to notice the damage: cracks in the mortar, marks left by skateboarders, stains from graffiti.

The biggest problem has been the water that has forced its way behind the rock veneer and cracked it.

Drago turned to the next generation of veterans for help.

State Representative Joe Rice served two tours of duty as an army reservist in Iraq.

“I think it’s somewhat the responsibility of the younger veterans and their families to maintain the legacy of those who came before us,” he said.

So, he is sponsoring a resolution (HJR07-1034) to urge private and public contributions be made to the Colorado Veterans’ Monument Preservation Trust Fund in the Department of Personnel.

"I think a lot of people, organizations, foundations, would make contributions to maintain the monument if they knew it was needed," he said. “The monument was built with a great number of private sector contributions, and that’s why we’re asking for help from many of the same groups and individuals that cared enough 17 years ago to build this, if they care enough to help us maintain it.”

The state does pay for some routine maintenance, but supporters want to have the memorial caulked and inspected every year and sealed every decade.

They hope to raise $300,000 dollars with the resolution, using the interest for perpetual maintenance.

“I had a Marine friend who asked me if this monument was going to last a thousand years,” Drago said. “I said I would do my best. To do that, you need a systematic maintenance schedule on a timely basis, to make sure it’s here for future generations. And that’s what this is all about.”

Donations may be sent to: Colorado Veterans’ Monument Preservation Trust Fund, C/O The Department of Personnel, 633 17th St. Suite 1400, Denver, CO 80202.