Spring 2014, Volume 1 - New Jersey Vietnam Veterans` Memorial
Transcription
Spring 2014, Volume 1 - New Jersey Vietnam Veterans` Memorial
T0 REMEMBER... T0 HEAL... T0 HONOR... NEWSLETTER ISSUE 1 • MARCH 2014 GREETINGS FROM THE DIRECTOR Dear Friend, Each year, thousands of visitors of all ages visit the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation’s (NJVVMF) Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center and Memorial. It’s an honor to manage the operations and activities at the NJVVMF and to get to know people like you, who make our work possible. Like our Board of Trustees and volunteer tour guides, I often draw from my own personal experiences as a Vietnam Veteran to engage with visitors. While some Veterans did not receive a warm homecoming, today we are greeted with respect and appreciation. It’s a heartwarming feeling. My fellow Veterans depend on the Foundation to preserve their legacies for future generations and I am honored to lead this charge. We have launched this monthly e-newsletter to keep you informed of our activities so you can join us for upcoming events and share the news with friends. With your help, we will preserve the legacy and continue to honor those who served as well as our active duty servicemen and women. Thank you for your continued support and please contact me at [email protected] with any questions. Best regards, Bill Linderman Executive Director BOARD OF TRUSTEES UPDATES Without the support and dedication of our Board of Trustees, the NJVVMF’s work could not be possible. This past December, we announced a new slate of officers. View our full list of Board of Trustee members. CLARK W. MARTIN YARDLEY, PA CHAIRMAN JIM PETILLO BRIELLE, NJ VICE PRESIDENT SUPPORT OUR WORK BY CHECKING LINE 61 ON YOUR NEW JERSEY TAX FORM AND MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE NEW JERSEY VIETNAM VETERANS’ MEMORIAL FOUNDATION LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER OR VISIT WWW.NJVVMF.ORG DAILY FOR THE NAMES AND BIOS OF THE NEW JERSEYANS LOST EACH DAY DURING THE VIETNAM WAR JACK TULLY GORDON S. PINGICER SEA GIRT, NJ SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS, NJ SECRETARY TREASURER 1 Memorial Lane (Garden State Parkway Exit 116) • Holmdel, NJ 07733 • 732.335.0033 • WWW.NJVVMF.ORG 1 NEWSLETTER ISSUE 1 • MARCH 2014 OPERATION HUEY TAKES FLIGHT A group of Veteran volunteers, led by Vietnam Veterans and volunteers, Ken Gurbisz and Carl Burns, are restoring a classic helicopter from the Vietnam Era. Dubbed, Operation Huey Restoration, the Veterans began their task in spring 2013 with the goal of having the 1964 Bell UH-1D Huey Helicopter ready for display at the Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center on May 7, 2014, the Huey’s 50th birthday and New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day. To date, the team has logged over 3,000 hours of work, shared countless memories, and in doing so, continue to bridge the gaps of generations. About half the volunteers are retired Vietnam Veterans, but some who joined recently are from a new generation of Veterans looking to connect with the past, give back and heal. “It started out as serious business, and it still is, but now you watch people come together and there is a social aspect,” said Gurbisz, a 28 year resident of Eatontown, originally from Bayonne. “Restoring the “Bird” has been more than just a bonding experience for our crew of volunteers. It’s been an all-around good feeling. We look forward to celebrating the helicopter’s arrival with all who served.” said Carl Burns, Co-Chair, Operation Huey Restoration, from Manalapan, NJ. This Huey won't fly again. Not literally anyway. It will come to life on Wednesday, May 7 when it “lands” at the center of the newly constructed Huey Plaza at the entrance to the Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center where our Vietnam Veteran tour guides will share their stories as part of our guided tour program. OPERATION HUEY SUPPORTERS The Foundation would like to thank the many individuals and companies who have supported the project with their donations of time, services and financial contributions. Once the Huey Plaza construction is completed, the helicopter will be transported from Wall, NJ to the Museum for installation. This project would not have been possible without the support and guidance of Bob Briant, Jr., President of the New Jersey Utility & Transportation Contractors Association. In honor of his late father Bob Briant, Sr., Bob, Jr. organized the donation of materials and labor for the Plaza, currently an estimated total of $175,000. The Briant family has supported veterans’ organizations and causes across the NY/NJ region for generations, and Bob Briant, Sr. will forever be honored at the Huey Plaza. A special salute to the following businesses for donating time, materials and labor to make the Huey Plaza a reality: UTCA New Jersey, Solutions Architecture, HC Constructors, Heavy and General Laborers Local 472, J. Fletcher Creamer, Aspen Landscaping and Contracting, IEW Construction Group, Forest Electric, EP Henry Corporation, Berto Construction and W.J. Casey Rigging. Hornets 116th AHC in Formation (Photo Credit: Santos Sal Garcia) Watch our volunteers’ recent appearance on NJTV Visit our blog with news of some very special guests who will be joining us at the unveiling HOW YOU CAN HELP While we are making excellent progress, we still need your support. Once the Huey Plaza is completed, the Foundation will embark on a permanent exhibit about our Huey, its history and its legacy. This exhibit will include artifacts, documents and photographs that help tell our Huey’s story. We are also working with DeVry University to create a unique and engaging simulation experience. MAKE A DONATION NOW 1 Memorial Lane (Garden State Parkway Exit 116) • Holmdel, NJ 07733 • 732.335.0033 • WWW.NJVVMF.ORG 2 NEWSLETTER ISSUE 1 • MARCH 2014 EDUCATION UPDATES Despite the snow and slush, the winter has been busy. From tours to scholarships to planning for an exciting spring of events and programs we are looking forward to encouraging both new and returning visitors to experience this New Jersey treasure. TOURS Our 2014 field trip season kicked off in February, and our volunteer Vietnam Veteran Tour Guides are hard at work, sharing their stories and the importance of our unique Memorial with students. Our tours offer students unique opportunities to hear first-hand accounts and perspectives about the Vietnam Era. Learn more about our field trips. SCHOLARSHIPS February also marks the start of our 2013-2014 scholarship season. Each year, the Foundation awards $2,500 to two seniors graduating from a New Jersey high school . To assist students in writing their essays, the Foundation offers free, veteran-led guided tours of the Memorial during Scholarship Season. Tours generally last about an hour and provide an opportunity to interact with our Vietnam Veteran Tour Guides. Applications are due in the office by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2014. Get more information on how to apply for a scholarship. "IN THE ERA IN WHICH WE LIVE, THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD MUST BE TAUGHT TO OUR STUDENTS IN A WAY IN WHICH THEY CAN CONNECT AND FIND RELEVANCE IN THE LESSONS. I HOPE YOU KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HISTORY AND LIFE-LESSONS YOU‘VE GIVEN MY STUDENTS.” TEACHER, EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL HELP US TEACH THEM FUND Another exciting program is our Help Us Teach Them Fund. Created in 2013, the Fund will ensure that New Jersey’s educators can continue to enrich their curriculum with the unique and important historical resources that our class trips provide. The current economic climate has cut extracurricular budgets across the state. In recent years, class trips are increasingly absent from classroom curriculum. The Fund provides grants to educators to cover admission fees and transportation costs for class trips to our Museum and Memorial. Please note that we are currently fundraising for this project and grants are not available this year. You can support this work by making a donation to the Help Us Teach Them Fund. Thank you for supporting the education of our region's students. Individual and corporate donations are much appreciated. Learn more about this program. 1 Memorial Lane (Garden State Parkway Exit 116) • Holmdel, NJ 07733 • 732.335.0033 • WWW.NJVVMF.ORG 3 NEWSLETTER ISSUE 1 • MARCH 2014 UPCOMING EVENTS FOR MARCH - MAY 2014 SCHOLARSHIP TOURS Saturday, March 15, 22, 29 and April 5 • 11:00 a.m. • Free Admission The Foundation awards two $2,500 scholarships to New Jersey high school seniors each year. In addition to the scholarship application and proof of acceptance to a college or trade school, all applicants must submit an essay about his/her visit to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial. To assist students in writing their essays, the Foundation offers free, Vietnam Veteran led guided tours of the Memorial. These tours are also available to the general public who would like to learn more about the Memorial. Tours are approximately one hour. Tour groups meet in the Museum lobby. The deadline for the application and essay submission is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2014. Learn more about our scholarship program and download the application form. LIVING HISTORY DAY AT BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY Saturday, April 5 • 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. • Battleship Admission Applies Join our Veterans at the Battleship New Jersey’s Vietnam Living History Day. Stop by the Battleship (Camden Waterfront) to hear Vietnam Veterans from across the state share their memories. Learn more. LECTURE: JACK “DOC” MANICK, MEMORIES OF A COMBAT MEDIC IN VIETNAM Saturday, April 12 • 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. • Regular Admission Applies An author lecture by Jack "Doc" Manick, entitled "Memories of a Combat Medic in VIetnam," based on his books, Incoming (2010) and Incoming...The Men of the 70th. This program will be held at the Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center. To learn more about Manick's story watch his interview with the Woodbridge Veterans' Project. THE AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS OF NEW JERSEY FAMILY PICNIC & FUN DAY Sunday, April 27 • 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. Admission: Adults $15, Children $10, Uniformed Active Duty Free of Charge Please join us at the George Vanderveer American Legion Post 129 (2025 Church Road, Toms River) for a fun-filled day including a BBQ, games and activities for the family and music performed by the Lifters and the Goldenseal Band. Tickets can be purchased at the event.. For more information call 732-232-3286. Learn more. REMEMBRANCE DAY AND HUEY PLAZA DEDICATION CEREMONY Wednesday, May 7 • 11:00 a.m. • Free Admission New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day Ceremony and Dedication of our Huey Plaza. Plan to join us for a celebration of our newest display, a 1964 Huey Helicopter that served two tours in Vietnam. Learn more. MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY Monday, May 26 • 11:00 a.m. • Free Admission Join us for our annual Memorial Day Ceremony. Our Keynote speaker is Major General (Ret ’d) and Chairman, Clark Martin. The ceremony will also include the presentation of two scholarships to New Jersey high school seniors and the induction of four Vietnam Veterans into the “In Memory” Program. Learn more. 1 Memorial Lane (Garden State Parkway Exit 116) • Holmdel, NJ 07733 • 732.335.0033 • WWW.NJVVMF.ORG 4
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