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Carefree Truth
Issue #822, April 13, 2020
Issue #822, April 13, 2020
Mike Wold said he was proud to be representing the team that had been working very hard over the last couple of months.
Mike Wold
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
There have been a half dozen meetings planning the Veterans Memorial Monument in Carefree. The next closest Memorial is in Anthem, so this is really a regional Monument.
Carefree and Cave Creek have a history of veteran friendliness. Carefree holds Veterans Day and Memorial Day events each year. There seemed to be a need for a Monument where veterans and their families could come to honor veterans. Carefree Vice Mayor John Crane, a Navy submariner, advocated for this Memorial, and the Council and staff are supportive. The advisory team leader and the members are all volunteers.
Mayor Les Peterson interjected that the idea had been around for a number of years and several Council members had proposed it. But what the Town didn't want was to present something to the veterans, they wanted the veterans to come to Carefree with what they wanted. Then the Town could join in and support them. Mr. Wold said that's exactly what has happened. It is not a Town project, it's a project of veterans. They really appreciate the support shown so far and know that there will be additional support.
The all volunteer team consists of team leader Mike Ferrell (Army), Bob Jenkins (Marines), Pratt Ashworth (Air Force), Dick Hartig (Coast Guard), Mike Wold (Navy), John Crane- Town Council Liaison (Navy), Joe Henkemeyer-Landscape Design/Contractor, and Howard Bertram-Bertram Signs & Graphics. Bob owns and runs Vetsbuilt contracting. Pratt is heavily involved in the Cave Creek American Legion Post #134, and 3 members are active in the Cave Creek American Legion Post.
The team determined the design requirements: In or very near the Carefree Desert Gardens, a low maintenance simple design with a single focal point, a reflective atmosphere, and a small footprint. There should be minimal change to the existing site.
The milestones included the recruitment of a team leader, a team formed with representatives from each branch of the service. A site was selected, a conceptual design was determined and features were selected. Costs were estimated, and a funding plan was created. Mr. Wold noted that community input is still welcomed.
Milestones still to be completed included a detailed design, final cost estimates, implementation of the funding plan, holding a community meeting on March 25th from 5:30-7:30 PM in the Carefree Council Chambers, and beginning the design implementation. The target completion date was April 30th, with the dedication taking place on Memorial Day, May 25th.
The site chosen in the Gardens will need very little preparation work. It is near the playground, and screening landscaping will be planted between the two sites. Mr. Wold presented slides with front and aerial proposed conceptual drawings of the Monument, which was designed to be in tune with the southwest and the Carefree Desert Gardens.
Milestones still to be completed included a detailed design, final cost estimates, implementation of the funding plan, holding a community meeting on March 25th from 5:30-7:30 PM in the Carefree Council Chambers, and beginning the design implementation. The target completion date was April 30th, with the dedication taking place on Memorial Day, May 25th.
The site chosen in the Gardens will need very little preparation work. It is near the playground, and screening landscaping will be planted between the two sites. Mr. Wold presented slides with front and aerial proposed conceptual drawings of the Monument, which was designed to be in tune with the southwest and the Carefree Desert Gardens.
The Monument will consist of 3 pieces of Arizona Coconino flagstone with varying heights, approximately 6' high; 3' wide; and 6' thick, and plaques. The first will read, "Dedicated to the men and women of our armed forces who served this country with honor". The others will feature the 6 branches of the service, including the new Space Force. The pad will consist of antique pewter chevron pavers with the pattern running towards the Monument. There will be 4-6 benches surrounding the Monument. An illuminated flag pole will stand at the entrance.
Troop 603 Eagle Scout Project in Cave Creek, with Scoutmaster Devin Smith, is involved in the project, and Jason Marke of Flagpole Today is donating the flagpole, worth around $2000. They are off to a good start with community support.
The Monument is estimated to cost between $40,000 and $50,000, with a fund raising goal of $50,000. AT&T supports veterans in about 20 states, including Arizona. Donations can be made in cash or online through the local AT&T Veterans Fund at www.attveterans,org/carefree
The team will also be reaching out to local businesses and individuals via Carefree and Cave Creek publications, the Chamber of Commerce, and electronic media. Donations may be made "in memory of" or "in honor of". Questions can be addressed to veteransmemorialincarefree@gmail.com.
Pratt Ashworth noted that it is important to remember that this is a community project and is not driven by location. He credited Vice Mayor John Crane for moving the project forward.
Mayor Les Peterson added that Arizona has a long history of supporting our veterans. Carefree's Veterans Day and Memorial Day events experience heavy participation. He then invited Bob Jenkins to talk about his father, who had passed away at age 100 the day before. The Mayor recalled that Lew Jenkins had spoken at the Veterans Day event two years prior. He had served at the Battle of the Bulge in WWll. When they ran out of ammunition in the midst of the fight, they chased the enemy by throwing rocks at them.
Bob Jenkins said his grandfather was a Welsh coal miner, which is about as low as one can get. He had never seen the inside of a school building. He married and moved to the frontier of northern Canada, working as a firefighter. He moved to Pittsburgh to work in the steel mills, then on to New York City, where Bob's father was born. Bob's Uncle Charlie was a Marine in WWl. Bob's father served in WWll as an artillery Army Captain. He was in the Battle of the Bulge with Patton.
Bob's favorite story about his dad was this: After the war was over, the Germans had surrendered. They had all been fighting in the trenches for months and months. The Major ordered Bob's dad to guard the troops while he went into town, where the booze and babes were. He was told to hand over to the Soviet troops any Germans who surrendered. The first group of Germans walked down the road a few hundred yards. A few minutes later, Bob's dad heard gunfire and realized the Germans had all been assassinated. The war was over. This was not supposed to happen. When the next group surrendered to him he defied a direct order from a superior officer, a court martial offense. He handed them over to the Sergeant, with orders to place them in an allied POW camp. "Do not let them walk down the road." He literally saved the lives of people they had been fighting. It was a powerful story that has always stayed with Bob.
Mr. Wold said he and his wife Pam were so happy to meet Lew Jenkins. Pam hugged him. Mayor Peterson added, "It is these kinds of people that we want to honor, and we are honored that you are taking the lead, all of you, and making this happen. Thank you".
Councilman Vince D'Aliesio asked how donations of materials and labor would be handled. Mr. Wold said the donors should send an invoice for the full value of the donation, and would be given a receipt for that amount to be used for tax deduction purposes.
Councilman Gene Orrico reminded Mr. Ashworth that the American Legion had offered a $2000 donation a couple of years ago, and asked if that was still on the table. Mr. Ashworth said he would have to check on that. Mr. Orrico asked if the Monument would be lit at night. Mr. Wold said it would be, as would the flag.
Vice Mayor Crane noted that the project is entirely funded by donations, the Town is not funding the Monument. He added that these gentlemen came up with the concept, the design, and the plan to implement it. The Town is donating a piece of land on which to place the Monument. This is really a grass roots program, both the idea and the funding. Carefree, Cave Creek, N. Scottsdale and N. Phoenix are all involved. He pointed out that there was a flier available up front with the website for donations and and an email address for questions. Both donations and questions are welcomed.
https://vimeo.com/395603721
Since Mike Wold introduced the team of veterans working on the Veterans Memorial in Carefree and shared conceptual drawings at the March 3 Town Council meeting, memorial construction and fund raising efforts were placed on temporary hold while we cope with the COVID-19 virus. Once the virus is behind us, the team will get back to work. We may need to wait a bit, but when completed, we will have a Veterans Memorial that will aptly honor our veterans and of which the community can be proud.
John Crane
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
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