BOARD OF DIRECTOR'S

UPDATING THE DREAM

The first and foremost objective was to find and secure a site for the project. This we have done at the Colorado Welcome Center in Fruita, Colorado. The City of Fruita has agreed to take on the maintenance and the liability issues. The State has deeded the property over to the City of Fruita. Fruita will incorporate the property into the City's Park System. In agreement with the City we raised $10,000.00 to help cover the cost of continuing maintenance.

The United States Army has donated a UH-1H huey helicopter for static display. The huey was located at Camp Robinson in Little Rock, Arkansas. Bill Martin and I drove out there and the Air Guard had us loaded and out the gate within two hours. The trip home was great. Bill named the huey Columbine which is the State Flower of Colorado. People were honking, waving, and giving us the thumbs up. We even had a Kansas State Patrolman pull us over and asked "where can we get one"! Our groundbreaking ceremony was March 16, 2002. United States Senator Ben "Nighthorse" Campbell was our keynote speaker. The event was a total success with hundreds of supporter's in attendance. Construction began on December 23rd, 2002. Associated Builders and Contractors of America took us on as their 2003 Community Project. FCI is our General Contractor. It is estimated that ABC will be donating $400,000.00 in materials and labor costs. The chopper will be given a new paint job before being mounted for static display above the memorial. This will be donated by West Star Aviation, Inc. located at Walker Field.

We have been working on gaining support for the project. We've been giving presentations to the various service clubs, VFW's, American Legion's, County Commissioners, State Senators, and Representatives in order to gain support for a Vietnam War Memorial for the Western Slope of Colorado. Most recently we received a letter of support from Governor Bill Owens and a letter of support from U.S. Congressman Scott McInnis. Also State Senator Ron Teck and State Rep. Gayle Berry have written us with their endorsement for the project being placed in Fruita. The Grand Junction Lion's Club has awarded us a $16,000.00 grant for the lighting of the Memorial. A national organization Help Hospitalized Veterans has donated $10,000.00 to help with the construction of the Memorial. We have also received $5,000.00 from the El Pomar Foundation, $5,000.00 from The Bacon Family Foundation, $3,500.00 from the Fruita Tourism Board, and $3,000.00 from the Fruita Lion's Club. Numerous organizations and people have been donating to make this memorial a reality.

The Memorial will have a granite wall surrounding the helicopter pad. We envision that anyone who served in the U. S. Armed Forces between the years of 1959-1975 regardless of "in country" Vietnam can have their name etched on the memorial. All Vietnam Era Veterans may make a donation toward a wall etching. A brick sidewalk called the "Walk of Honor" will be available for anyone who would like to make a donation toward the walkway. Any Veteran, family, individual, or a company name will have the opportunity to share in this wonderful memorial. We are excited about our accomplishments to date and will continue to work away on building this living memorial to our Vietnam Era Veterans.

The dedication and celebration of this wonderful memorial will be on July 4th, 2003 at 9:00 AM. A huey flyover will start the ceremony. At 10:00 AM 4 F-16's in a missing man formation will fly over the crowd. This will take place as former Joint Chief of Staff General Ronald Fogelman USAF (Ret.) is giving his keynote speech. A ribbon cutting will follow and I will officially open the Western Slope Vietnam War Memorial Park.

Please stay tuned for our announcement of the Western Slope Vietnam War Memorial Scholarship Program.

I am extremely touched by your interest and care.

Thank you all.

To Donate or have your name or the name of a loved one included in The Western Slope Vietnam War Memorial Please click here