Corporate Gift Lifts Vets Memorial Toward Reality

By Kari Hawkins, Redstone Rocket StaffJune 4, 2009

Worth Celebrating
Members of the Madison County Veterans Memorial Foundation are celebrating the donation of $300,000 by the Boeing Company to the construction of the veterans memorial in downtown Huntsville’s Veterans Park. Attending a ceremony announcing the donatio... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

A $300,000 donation has put the Madison County Veterans Memorial Foundation much closer to its goal of raising about $4 million to build a veterans memorial in downtown Huntsville's Veterans Park.

The donation, made by the Boeing Company, brings to nearly $2 million the amount of funds raised by the foundation. A symbolic check for $300,000 was presented by Boeing vice president Tony Jones to foundation chairman Bill Stender at a ceremony in Veterans Park on Memorial Day. The May 25 ceremony included AMCOM commander Maj. Gen. James Myles, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Rep. Parker Griffith and foundation fund-raising chairman retired Brig. Gen. Bob Drolet.

"This is a special day ... This day was established for the remembrance of those who died in service, who made their breast a barricade between us and the foes," said Stender, a decorated Vietnam veteran who was named 2008's Veteran of the Year in Madison County for his work on the memorial.

"This is a very special day and a very special place where we will recognize the 360 from Madison County who gave all. This is a place where we as a community will proclaim our heartfelt appreciation."

The memorial will represent three armed forces attributes - courage, the spirit that enables a person to face danger; sacrifice, the ability to forfeit one's interest for another's; and duty, a person's proper function in a common effort.

"These three words define the American Soldier and that's why these three words will be the foundation of this memorial," Stender said.

Jones, a retired lieutenant general, said Boeing's contribution is in line with the memorial's purpose in honoring the sacrifice of all veterans and their families. More than 1 million Americans have given their lives in service to the nation since its birth.

"Boeing made this donation because it's the right thing to do and because it's the right time," he said.

Through its donation, Boeing has chosen to support the memorial's educational component that lists all the U.S. military campaigns.

"We are doing that because we all need to understand the sacrifices these veterans and their families endured so we can enjoy freedoms," Jones said.

Boeing also chose to fund the sacrifice statue, which is an element of the memorial.

"Only those who serve know what it means. They make sacrifices on a daily basis," Jones said.

Griffith commended the efforts to build the memorial, and said, besides recognizing veterans, the memorial also recognizes military families who have experienced "great, great heartbreak and great agony" through the ultimate sacrifice made by their loved ones.

"We recognize that there are no good wars," he said. "But there are necessary wars."

Because of America's military, its citizens - which represent only 6 percent of the world's population - have had the ability to build a nation that is number one in military and political strength, space development, post secondary education, agricultural development of land and the development of medicine.

"Anyone in the world can come to America and realize their potential," Griffith said. "This nation is the greatest experiment in democracy. We must remain dedicated to those who have allowed us to reach our potential."

While Memorial Day is the unofficial start of the summer, its true purpose is to be a day when all Americans remember "those who gave us the right to celebrate freedom, who said 'I will give my life if I have to,'" Myles said.

"Veterans have fought so that you can have the freedoms to be all you can be and that's what makes veterans special."

In combat operations throughout the world, today's Soldiers have made a commitment to the veterans who have come before them, Myles said. Quoting President Abraham Lincoln, he said Soldiers will continue to do their part to protect and defend freedom throughout the world.

Battle reiterated Huntsville's commitment to ensure the veterans memorial is built.

"We are a community that says 'Thank you,'" he said. "A little bit of each of us died with the 360 men (from Madison County) who gave their lives for our country. Our mission is to finish putting up this memorial to those 360 men and all those who have served."

Jones urged other corporations and private individuals to donate to the memorial.

"We need everyone in this community to help to get this done," he said. "Many of our older veterans today are perishing, yet their families are still here. We want something in this community to honor their service" while they are with us and after they are gone.

The foundation has plans to announce other major donations later this summer. The community can participate in raising funds by purchasing license plates, lapel pins and magnetic decals, and by purchasing a $100 brick paver that will be part of the memorial. For more information, call 533-0180 or visit the foundation's website at www.madisoncountyveteransmemorial.org.