Though Victor Biggs never served his country in uniform, he wants to show his gratitude to those who have. It's one of the primary reasons the Pembroke Pines man is at the forefront of a national effort to honor America's disabled war veterans.

Biggs is the executive director of the Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation, a Delray Beach-based nonprofit group with the sole objective of raising money to build the nation's first memorial for all living and deceased disabled veterans.

``Our goal is to help America honor our nation's servicemen and women who went into battle very bravely, risking their lives, their livelihoods and sacrificing their futures and safety to defend our freedom,'' said Biggs, a 23-year resident of South Florida.

Biggs estimates there are 1.7 million veterans in Florida, with an estimated 118,000 thousand calling Broward County home. Citing figures for 2007, 9 to 12 percent of veterans, he said, return home permanently disabled in some way.

Biggs recently traveled to the nation's Capitol to be on hand for the Feb. 25 launch of the 2010 American Veterans Disabled for Life Silver Dollar, the first commemorative coin issued by the U.S. Mint in 2010. A surcharge of $10 from the sale of every coin will go directly to the fund for building the memorial.

``This is the best way to say thank you to anyone you know who is a veteran,'' Biggs said.

The foundation is hoping to break ground on the memorial in Washington, D.C., sometime this year, once it has raised the final 5 percent of the estimated $86 million dollars needed to build it.

It will sit on a two-acre site within full view of the United States Capitol, adjacent to the National Mall, and across from Independence Avenue and the United States Botanic Garden.

The focal point of the memorial will be a star-shaped reflecting pool, its surface broken by a single eternal flame. Its purpose is to honor the three million living disabled veterans from all branches of service, and conflicts, and the million that passed before them.

While Biggs didn't serve in the military, his brother was in the U.S Navy.

``He basically served for me and I always wanted a way to give back,'' said Biggs, who is also a member of the Flamingo Road Church, where son Vaughn is a worship pastor.

Biggs says his role is a continuation of work he has done in South Florida, helping to provide a safety net and vocational training programs for South Florida's homeless population, which includes many veterans. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans estimates that 23 percent of the homeless population are veterans.

Biggs' efforts with nonprofit agencies include the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Emergency Food & Shelter Program, United Way of Miami-Dade County, Broward County Continuum of Care, and the Second Chance Society. Biggs also has extensive senior management experience working with the Salvation Army and the North Miami Beach Police Department.

``This project lets me say thanks to the veterans for giving me the freedom that I have,'' Biggs said.

For the full article, visit the Miami Herald's website.