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We extend our
love , honor, respect and congratulations to the troops. This Memorial is all about you, the
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, the men and women of the
CENTRAL COMMAND and Coalition forces.
FINALLY! WE BROKE GROUND! |
PRESS RELEASE: St. Petersburg FL (January 18th, 2008) After almost
seven years of planning, conference's, estimates, progress,
regression, revisions, success and frustration, that's all in the past
now. The three member Board of Directors of the CENTCOM MEMORIAL
FOUNDATION are pleased to announce that on Friday the 18th of January
2008, the contract to build the CENTCOM MEMORIAL was awarded and issued.
The documents were signed and issued at the offices of C. Randolph
Wedding, Architect. Not more than 45 days later the ground
clearing and site preparation began.
The company with the winning bid is HALFACRE Construction Company of
Sarasota Florida. They have a great deal of experience in this arena
having previously built Memorials, and varied local projects, at MacDill
AFB and other Tampa Bay locations. The architectural design and plans are
by the renowned Architect C. Randolph Wedding of Wedding + Stephenson
Architects, Inc.
A little history. The plans were reviewed in Washington for approval by
the House of Representatives, the Secretary of Defense, the Department of
Defense and the United States Senate. This took quite a while as is the
norm with Washington these days. Wars put things on back burners. This is
the procedure that needed to be followed even though we are not using
government funding, all of our funds have come from donations and the
hearts of those that care.
No government funding is
used in the Memorial.
The Board worked in behalf with no less than three Changes of Command,
including General Tommy Franks, General John Abizaid, and Admiral Fallon.
In the photograph from left to right is Vice President Julia Baker, President Ellie Scarfone-Malanowski,
and our Treasurer.
David L. Troop.
Macdill is a former Air Force bomber training facility and hosts CENTCOM,
SOCOM, NOAA and other major commands. The Air Force is tasked with
the physical parameters and logistics of building a project such as
this.
Thus, adjustments will be necessary as the cost of building the Memorial has
escalated over the seven years. This is due to rising material costs, site
changes, finishing expenditures and the availability of resources to
complete the project. Materials alone have escalated 100%.
Never the less, we are on target, and now we have to think in terms of
perpetuity. Your continuing donations are essential.
A special thank
you to our patrons and friends who realized there have been more pressing
moments in Congress these past few years and we thank those who have
supported the Memorial with patience, friendship and loyalty. You
have been the heroes and helped us to get through the long process.
We will keep you posted more frequently as the Memorial develops. The construction
is proceeding rapidly. It will
take approximately four months to complete. As we progress, we will make
every effort to keep you posted.
Again, thank you ALL for your patience and support. It has taken
longer than expected but we are diligent and pressing forth at every
opportunity.
Ellie Scarfone-Malanowski, President, Chairman of the Board
Julia Baker, Vice President and Secretary
David L. Troop, Treasurer
Al Jacobson, Board Member
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PICTURES |
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This
is the original rendering as speculated in 2001 to give you an idea of
the overall scope of the project.
Most of the
concept is relevant and the basic changes are to the placements, final
location, a revetment lake was added for the new buildings.
Additional changes are effected by required codes, rules, and concerns
for safety and security.
When completed, it
will be all worth the effort.
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DIG
WE MUST!
These are the footers for the wall. Poured concrete and rebar form the
support for the block outstretched arms of the Memorial.
In the background you can see the beautiful pond and fountain that
borders the Memorial to the West and adds to it's size and dimension. |
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COULDN'T BE PRETTIER
The wall of the pond follows the contours of the Memorial again adding
to it's scope. The grass will be the buffer between the wall and this
retaining wall almost giving it a two stage but level effect. |
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LOCATION,
LOCATION,
LOCATION!
This is a great Location. The Building on the left is the new CENTRAL
COMMAND Headquarters, additional new structures to the right, the pool
and you can see part of the circular wall structure. Note the depth
needed in Florida soil for structural integrity. |
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The
Memorial is significant in size and the shape blends into the existing
buildings and flat areas beautifully.
The colors and hues of
the stone and granite will reflect and change as the lighting
conditions change.
The new Headquarters Building for the CENTRAL COMMAND is
in the background.
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04/01/08
Construction is progressing rapidly and the walls are taking shape.
The one on the left has the lift and the one on the right is halfway
there. Both should be completed and capped by the 2nd of April. we
have been fortunate as the weather has been on our side.
The Memorial frames the new CENTCOM building
beautifully and becomes part of the total "picture" of MacDill AFB. |
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WE NEED YOUR
HELP NOW! |
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It's
never too late to become part of a great project and we need the
additional support. We
wish to raise another three hundred thousand dollars. This would be for
future maintenance and the additional goals of the foundation. This
MEMORIAL is for those deployed in harm's way in the Area Of
Responsibly (AOR) of the Central Command. IT
IS FOR THE TROOPS who have made the ultimate sacrifice for us to remain
free. It
is funded by those Patriotic Americans who understand that if we don’t
keep this war on their turf, it could someday again show up here. It
is supported by caring people who don’t think we should wait 10, 20, 30 or
more years to honor our troops.
We are blessed to have those folks who understand veterans with
disabilities and injuries from the conflict need care, some now, and some
later on and they will not be forgotten. And
WE can't do it without YOU. WE need YOU! The time is now.
What's in it for you? To be content with the knowledge that you
stood with our men and women.
WE have approximately $1,000,000 raised, but in the seven years it has
taken for approvals, raising the monies, etc., construction costs and
supplies have risen. All funds have been raised by
soliciting private citizens. Our Troops don’t have the money, many
deployed from reserve units are struggling with their own financial
problems.
We
need your help and the help of the community who are part of the support
for our troops.
Your checks can be mailed to:
US CENTCOM Memorial Foundation
P. O. BOX 6095
MacDill AFB
Tampa, FL 33618
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The United States Central Command Memorial Foundation |
The USCENTCOM Memorial
Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit, federal and state registered
organization, (501)(C)(3). It is publicly funded, and is accepting
in-kind donations to complete the Memorial at MacDill Air Force Base,
Tampa , Florida.
As you peruse through our website we wish to make it very clear that our
small in size, big in heart Foundation is about the "TROOPS". It is not
about specific units, branches of service, rank, our board, individuals,
nor groups. Our focus is clear and defined. It is about the American
Soldier serving his country and the comrades in arms from our coalition
partners that stand side by side with us. Yes, we will have a place in our
walls and our hearts for our Coalition members.
We shall provide for those who have given of themselves, we will be there
for them and their loved ones. When the Memorial is completed and
secured for perpetuity, any excess funding will be set for scholarships,
education, and grants through affiliate organizations.
It will be a reminder that we take care of our own, no one shall be alone,
no one forgotten.
It will also be a place for award presentations, promotions, and
retirement ceremonies. Located right next to CENTCOM, it will provide a
needed arena for the Command steeped in Honor, Tradition and Sacrifice.
It will also provide an area of recognition for our friends and allies who
have served side by side with us and paid the ultimate price of freedom. A
haven, an area for deep reflection, this was an essential ingredient in
its design. A place to say hello and a place for some to say
goodbye...
The COMMAND:
Headquartered at MacDill
Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, the United States Central Command
(USCENTCOM) is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands assigned operational
control of U.S. combat forces. USCENTCOM’s Commander, reports
directly to the Secretary of Defense, who in turn, reports to the
President of the United States.
Commands are normally organized on a geographical basis into regions known as "Areas
Of Responsibility". USCENTCOM’s AOR stretches from the Horn of
Africa to Central Asia. Organized as a headquarters element,
USCENTCOM has no war fighting units permanently assigned to it. All
four Armed Services provide USCENTCOM with component commands, which,
along with our joint special operations component, make up USCENTCOM's
primary war fighting and engagement organizations.
Activated by President Ronald Reagan on Jan.1, 1983, USCENTCOM is the
permanent successor to the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force, a temporary
organization created by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 to project American
power in the Middle East and East Africa.
MACDILL
The Central Command is
located at MacDill AFB. About eight miles south of downtown Tampa. MacDill
has about 6,000 airmen and civilians on 5,000 acres, located on the west
coast of Florida. Activated in 1941, MacDill Army Air Base was named after
Col. Leslie MacDill who died in a plane crash near Washington D.C. in
1938. The base has gone through many changes and military conflicts in
its 60 years. It is resplendent with history. In addition to the 6th
Air Mobility Wing, MacDill Air Force Base is also home to more than 50
various military units and commands. This includes the United States
Central Command and United States Special Operations Command. The presence
of these two unified commands and other Mission Partners creates a unique
multi-service community at MacDill, with all branches of service
represented. So although MacDill is an Air Force Base, it is also home to
many soldiers, sailors and Marines. Other Federal agencies such as NOAA
reside at the base.
United States Central
Command
Memorial Foundation, Inc.
Post Office Box 6095
MacDill AFB
Tampa, Florida 33618
Information
is Copyrighted United States Central Command Memorial Foundation, Inc. 2008
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