More funding needed for Fort Wainwright memorial
Published Saturday, May 3, 2008
If everyone in the Fairbanks area donated just $1, the Fairbanks Veterans Association would have enough money to fund a Fort Wainwright memorial to those in the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team who have paid the ultimate cost in defense of freedom.
Contractors who have donated their time and money to the project are putting the finishing touches on the first phase of the Monterey Lake Memorial Park.
The nonprofit organization of about 50 veterans has raised $1,000 internally to pay for the $40,000 memorial, but is now appealing to businesses and the community for additional funding.
“It’s a worthwhile endeavor,” said Bob Pailing, a Vietnam veteran who helped spearhead the effort to build the park. “There’s nothing else this extensive there.”
The park will house one tree for each of the 26 members of the 172nd who died while deployed in Iraq from August 2005 through November 2006, as well as for the Alaska National Guardsmen who died supporting the brigade.
A walkway will wind through the park, marked with black granite benches and pedestals and plaques engraved with the names of the fallen.
“This memorial park will be somewhat unique because it will be a park-like setting memorializing many different periods of time where most memorials that I have seen are normally dedicated to one event,” Sgt. Major Todd Wentland said in an e-mail.
Indeed, the association views this as only the first phase of a monument that will remember those killed in conflicts at least as far back as World War II.
“The old soldiers who have been through several wars and conflicts see the necessity of reminding soldiers and their families that they’re not just thrown away,” said Roy Leigh, a Fairbanks veteran who spent more than 20 years in the Army. “They are remembered.”
The 172nd memorial is scheduled to be dedicated June 26.
The Army is hoping that construction of a monument to members of the 1st Battalion 52nd Aviation Regiment killed in Iraq in the park will begin by the end of the summer.
“This memorial park will be part of our history,” Wentland said. “We work very hard to pass down our history to our young soldiers. It will serve as a permanent reminder to the sacrifices of the soldiers who have gone before us. When a soldier walks through a memorial park, he can’t help but swell up with pride.”
Community Discussion
Newsminer.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full user's agreement.
Where can I send a donation?
Exactly, what kind of poor article to not even put a plug in to actually donate and help the veterans!
I've got a few buck to add.
And at the end of time is the world going to have erected memorials to every war and every Battalion covering the landscape of what use to be earth? Use the money more wisely: start a fund to help veterans, veterans families, the children left behind, use the money for education or research on the affects of war,...I dunno. It sounds like a lot of money for nothing except vanity and another place for the drunks and drug users to congregate! I appreciate what they have done for our freedoms and I am sorry they lost their lives but this is the outcome to war.
(This comment was removed by the Newsminer.com staff. Please see our User Agreement for further information.)
I agree OneVoice. If we had a park for everyone that died doing the job they choose we would have parks for fisherman, construction workers, farmers. Don't get me wrong I am grateful to the military for the job they do as I am for the farmer that produces my food and the contrucion worker that builds my houses and roads.
That is the attitude that I received through my father who was a true 3 war veteran that did not fight a war from a comfortable compound (Not all but MOST do) he was in a muddy disease infested swamp sleeping in fox holes in Korea and Vietnam and always told me that he choose to spend the 30+ years at that job and does not expect to be put on a pedestal for what he accomplished. He is always amazed at how some of the the current day soldiers complain over their conditions and the reconidion they receive.
yeah... put me down for 2$. one from me and one from the anti war protester types who won't kick in their one buck.
danzop..
Different wars...you can not even compare them. It is apparent that your family is more than a little confused. Your father is a patriot and I am not taking away from his service but if he truly has made the comments that you say he made about our Soldiers that are dying everyday then he has tainted his service and his sacrifice. They had it rough, that is for sure but they knew who they were fighting and it was war...not so much in Iraq, we seldom see the enemy, instead we get blown up while driving or shot at from a distance...
Two wars...different Soldiers....different conditions...
I donate, but my donation goes toward the kids who are left behind. I would like to think that is what the parent would like more. To know that their child is being taken care of for them. I thank all the Veterans, but I would rather see a future for them to visualize and not a granite slab to visit. Their memories they will take with them in life, that rock stays here.
Mikegolf Shot from a distance as he was by unseen sniper. I understand different time different war and not running down the soldiers who are on patrol against an unseen enemy Most of the complaining comes from the troops who have never seen a patrol or been in Iraq or Afghanistan (whom seldom get mentioned)such as a soldier that I talked with that was never out of the compound and swears it was like He-- because the PX wasn't fully stocked and the meals were not adequate. Perhaps you should research some on past wars. Vietnam was alot unseen enemy not afraid to use innoccent children and women to blow up soldiers. True heros do not ask for reconition and complain of the conditions.
why not donate to both? We can *have* memorials AND volunteering to some need that ministers to families left behind, ya know. Not everyone grieves in the same way.
If you would like more information about donating, you can call Bob Pailing at 590-8692 or Roy Leigh at 488-3711.
Once again another drama board. Its awful that the past soldiers have had to fight in poor conditions but that was back when the internet wasnt even to be thought of yet. Come on guys dont put the soldiers down because they have it better then the past, the fact is they are still fighting for our country and being killed everyday. As for giving money to the families left behind I agree completely however thats why these guys have a large insurance policy..to take care of the ones left behind. So if this memorial is "not appropriate" to some of you then i want to know if you believe these men deserve a Full Military Burial cause technically its a tribute to a fallen soldier also. As a Soldiers wife it really hurts me bad to know that there is still an abundence of ignorance and less compassion to the soldiers we loss. I think the memorial will be a GREAT thing for the families, friends and troops who lost somebody. These guys were all buried away from Alaska ( for the most part)and it gives us a place to go when we need to remember them or mourn for them. I personally know a few guys here that still hurt over the loss of a fellow soldier and i think the memorial will be a step forward in their "recovery". Being that the 172nd served not only their 12 months but then was extended at the LAST MINUTE for another 4 months I truely believe this is the least we can do for these men! To all of those supporting the Memorial THANK YOU i know it will mean alot to the family's, friends and fellow soldiers
The memorial plans show this park as a place where people can enjoy a peaceful moment remembering their fallen friends. It will be around a water area, and will be on Fort Wainright. Many veteran's organizations in town are supporting this since is a way to remember the fallen heros in Fairbank.
I'm not a big fan of memorials yet if that is all it takes to alleviate for a bit a family's suffering and give some recognition for their loss...
Keeping the memory of fallen soldiers alive is important as it is with Fireman, Police, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters ect. ect. Just because I don't beleve in a memorial for each individual doesn't mean I am not compassionate for the men and women dying for our country whether they are a soldier or any other job.
Count me as one of the ones that not only will not contribute, but also will encourage anyone else to follow suit.
A memorial? To dead people? Move on. They're dead. A memorial does nothing but increase the emotional baggage of those still living.
Perhaps the wives and children of the military people can get together at Walmart, or wherever else they congregate, and light a candle or something. If that will make them feel better, then why not. Sure as hell would be cheaper.
My opinion. Just as valid as the rest of yours, just not as popular.
Danzop...
I really do not think that a Soldier requested this memorial therefore He is not the one asking for recognition. We all volunteered to do what we do and we do it without question. We go where we are told to go and we do what we are told to do even if it is driving down a piece of road that we know our buddy just died on the day before and another buddy the day before that or go into a building that we know there are bad guys that want to shoot us in the face..but we do it because that is our job and we are good at it. There are exceptions to every rule but I am going to say that the regular run of the mill Soldier does not need recognition or praise from people that has no clue as to what we do but I do think that a memorial to show the families of the Fallen that the community that they live in cares is not asking to much....if I am wrong and the community that I live in feels differently...well...that is truly sad...
my granfather was in the Army in WW2 in france and my father was a Marine in Vietnam. I was in Afghan. and then in Iraq. twice so far, but now I am in a leg outfit and supposed to go back again. I don't even compare this war to theirs. I seen the pictures of them both and how they lived there. When I was in Iraq i could email home and use the phone sometimes and we had a weight room and air conditioned tents.
Neither one of them ever complained because my great gandpa was in France in WW1. so each time we have a war the living gets better as it should be. But, this thing in iraq is nothing compared to what any of them went through and maybe if my kid ever goes he will have it easier still, I hope so.
Those who do not and will not contribute to such a memorial are correct in that they have the right to refrain.
The fact that we are in a War with the Jihadists of Radical Islam predates GWB. In fact, the roots of Modern Jihad may be found in the Wahabi Sect of Islam and that goes back, I believe, over a hundred years. We've (all of us) been in a war since literally before any of us was born. The fact that some people don't know or realize that fact does not change it.
Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen have fought for us - have "stood against the dark" for us. If we did all that you might recommend to make the world "like us" they wouldn't - they would come for us eventually. They would come eventually (will come, certainly if we do nothing to stop them). None of us wishes to "Submit or Die" - to Christianity, Judism, Islam, or any other religion.
Since these young men and women are defending us with valor and courage, I think - as is my right - that they are deserving of a memorial to preserve the memory of their honor, courage, and integrity. And before you mention "Abu Grieb" (sp?) to me, let me say that I believe those are and always have been the exception rather than the rule. Most of the events that our current media surface are made up out of lies and deceit and those that are found to hold merit are prosecuted.
I will donate (perhaps I will donate multiple times to cover one or two of you who don't) and that's my right.
Onevoice:
I forgot remind me how much time you have spent defending our country.
thanx for the support
Let's all be very clear about one thing, those in the 172nd that paid the ultimate cost, did so, but not in the defense of our freedom! America's freedom is not and never was in question!
Allen..
I guess 9/11 did not threaten our freedom?
Mike, I know your question wasn't in response to me, but I'd say it certainly was/is -- though not through the direct actions of OBL or any of his posse.
Ah 9-11.
Did it really threaten our freedom? Look at what the targets were. The World Trade Towers did nothing ensure our freedoms. Even the Pentagon seems to have been a secondary choice. Another on the Wahabbi wish list was the U. N.
In fact the best target any enemy could chose would be the U. S. Capitol during the State of the Union Address or an Inauguration. No it was not an attack on our freedoms. That would require an occupation army that even the Chinese would have a hard time mustering.
The only possibly successful attack would have to be economic, like $150 oil and $50 bags of rice and financial resources diverted to Dubai draining our capital markets. But that’s not terrorism, it’s called capitalism and free markets.
The only real defense we have is the U. S. Constitution and it’s not protected by fighting in Iraq but right here and keeping it in our hearts.
it such a poor reason to lose a life. this war is awful and not needed. we could do more through intell. money talks and in due time we could find the "bad guys". one missle from a ship and woof gone.
in my opinion to lose so many young americian solders to this cause is a shame and bush want how many more billions to continue. i would think its hard to fight and win a war when you dont know who the bad guys are.
i would be in support of our vets helping the army in different ways. i would also give to this effort just to show i care for our young men.
may God be with them, their families and the rest of us. I pray we get out of there asap and maybe put our energy and resources into our own country wherever needed. (on the home front).
In this war alone There have been 4,373 coalition deaths -- 4,065 Americans, two Australians, 176 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, one Czech, seven Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 33 Italians, one Kazakh, one Korean, three Latvian, 22 Poles, three Romanians, five Salvadoran, four Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the war in Iraq as of May 2, 2008, according to a CNN count(http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/)Should we erect shrines to them all? I'm Sorry Bikebuilder if I offend you, but there are better ways to use an almighty dollar than to erect another park in the honor of fallen soliders. Maybe a National crisis line for veterans where veterans can talk to veterans who understand and are armed with information pertinent to help these poor returning vet's deal with the horrors they've seen and the mangled bodies alot of them are returning with. I understand from friends in the military that it is hard to communicate these issues b/c so often these young men get labeled, and discharged, and medicatied, and are seen as weak and troubled and not solider material. I think they are all brave and I know I could never have done what they have accomplished, I am not trying to demean their sacrifice. It has been reported (I don't have time to find it now) that we have a greater incidence of returning vets committing suicide ...I just think we should help out the living. And some armywife said they have great insurance...fantastic! The dead have no more pains or problems but the walking wounded do! And it's not only memorials I oppose, it's graveyards too...when you're dead you're dead...I don't want visitors at my grave mourning, I'd rather have a living legacy...to benefit many, not a few bereft.
All of you who are against the voluntary contribution to this memorial are free to keep your money. You are not being forced to contribute too or even view this memorial. Although I’m sure many of you are for government programs that many of us are against but have no choice contributing too. Why not let those of us who wish to honor fallen heroes with our money do so?
lakloey1---
Exactly. If these freethinkers opposed to the war feel that they should not contribute, then fine. Enough people, in time, will donate enough to build this worthwhile monument. If those people would rather contribute to DAV, VFW, or the Legion, then that would be great also. For instance, one could contribute to the VFW's Operation Uplink and buy phone cards for soldiers abroad and in VA hospitals.
Or they could just gripe about "Bush lied,...", and isn't it all so unfair, and keep their money. Or send it to a liberal politician.
"But we support the troops". Right...
OneVoice...
Keep your $1....I will give in your place...bottom line is the fallen deserve someting so that 10, 15, 20 years from now then the people in Fairbanks will know the sacrifice that was made by Soldiers who lived in their community. That is not asking alot...
I will give for you...
"A memorial? To dead people? Move on. They're dead. A memorial does nothing but increase the emotional baggage of those still living."
I thought all you pseudo-intellectual, elitist snobs were supposed to be compassionate, or is that just lip service? Let me guess, I'll bet you "support the troops" too.
Most of the soldiers I know, do not in fact want to be recognized as heroes, they do not view themselves as so... I don't know where these soldiers are that want to be fawned all over, because I've never met them.
and as far as the memorial, I would love to see a memorial. It would be very nice to have somewhere to go to remember.... To remember those that passed, and my own deployment experience...
and to those who do not want to donate and feel it's a waste, that's why it's optional, no one is forcing you to give money, you don't have to go to the park or give your money for it, but if you choose to, then fine. I don't understand why we argue over this, if you don't like it that's fine, it's not your dollar paying for it...
I would like to ask though how they expect the park to be maintained?
@newsgeek:
I am neither compassionate, nor supportive of "the troops".
Reference my comment from a couple weeks ago, wherein I referred to the military population as an infestation.
So smart, yet so stupid not to recognize sarcasm when she sees it.
@newsgeek:
He. But it's interesting that you made that error.
maybe if we put the Memorial by the cat-house the Feds will help us pay for it...
Guys could get a 'massage' then check out the memorial...
i was with the Airborne for my tour in Afghan. and again for my 2 tours in Iraq. I think there must be a mistake in how many were lost by the 172, it is a full brigade and they were in Iraq for 16 months i think they say. they had to have lost a lot more than that, heck our company alone lost nearly twice that number in much less time.
someone re-check those casualty figures and if they are wrong please post the right amount, isnt fair to those that were killed if they are left out.
We only lost 26 Soldiers. This was largely due to the excellent training and preparation from the top BDE CDR and CSM down to all the NCOs and Officers in the BDE.
I served with the 172nd SBCT, it was a humbling honor to be in the presence of those men and women. I lost several friends there. These Soldiers will always be remembered, and their legacy is that they served their nation and paid the ultimate sacrifice at a time when most others in our country lack the intestinal fortitude to defend their country from those fanatical idiots that would have all Americans killed in a soccer field for the simple things we in this country take for granted. Fifty thousand dollars spent to remember 26 of my brothers is a small price to pay.
Those people that want to jump on their high horse (E.G.- onevoice and the like) should stop yapping their gums and join up to support the country somehow. If you are too scared to go and fight, then do something useful for the nation with yourself. Words are strong, action is strongest! Stop belly aching over how some people want to use a few dollars to remember those who have fallen and know that they fell FOR YOU.
It is not the fact that they died doing their job, it is the fact that they died doing their job to protect YOU and your freedom to make idiotic statements! The America they LOVED AND FOUGHT FOR! At least have some respect for those who have fallen and their loved ones. I for one, would have traded with any one of them if I could have brought the rest back alive. I live every day knowing that we payed for our families and friends to be safe and they paid the most.
God Bless them all, and all those who have served and will serve in the future.
Moob
Post a comment
Commenting requires registration.