Americal Monument Programs – National VA Cemeteries
Good news on the national VA cemetery monument projects. We are making substantial progress moving forward at some locations and getting cemetery staff to look at our proposals at others. The Florida project, at Sarasota National Cemetery, is approved (in mid-June) and we have a vendor with a drawing proof ready to go.
New National Commander Jack Head and Foundation director Bob Short have done a great job moving this one along and their efforts are paying off. The contractor states he plans to have the monument in place by Veterans Day 2024. Jack and I discussed having a monument dedication ceremony in early 2025. So, all you members living nearby plan on attending. More information on the ceremony plans will be coming out later this year.
For the Western New York Cemetery monument proposal, project leader Ron Krul received an early June communication from his POC there stating a concrete walkway is required to be in place before the staff considers monuments. The thought there is they can commence with monuments placement this summer. The last word I received from Ron is no further information is forthcoming from the cemetery staff since his early June communication.
At Riverside National Cemetery, the NCA staff there began reviewing our proposal documentation in late April. The staff presented POC Steve Mackey a list of documentation requirements for completion of the package. Several items were provided in the past, so it is a matter of sorting through what they have in their files to determine exactly what is needed for the approval process to start.
This is nothing new; the NCA has an extensive list of requirements, ranging from documentation to support the Foundation’s existence, a proposal document, technical drawings, narrative of commemorative intent, contractors’ certification of liability and Terms and Conditions of Acceptance. All that must complete and in the proposal packet for the approval review to begin. At the time I composed this article, I had not heard back from Steve regarding acceptance of our package. More on these VA cemetery sites monument projects as information comes available.
Americal Monument/Memorial Programs – Other Locations
The Highground Veterans Memorial Park, Neillsville, Wisconsin
Work is in progress on this Americal Monument project. The last report from the memorial contractor is the stone is at their location and etching work is underway. Before monument installation can begin at the Park, the Highground staff must move an existing monument from in front of the museum. The director advises he hopes to have that re-location finished by the end of July or early August. At that time, installation of the Americal Monument can proceed.