Final Memorial Dedication Photographs
MAJOR COORPORATE DONORS
Greetings to all AF CE Memorial donors and entire CE family:
First of all the CE Memorial Committee wants to express our sincere thanks for all the generous donations we have received. To date we have received over 12 corporate donors and over 450 individual donors. In fact, we have not only met our initial goal, but we have actually exceeded our goal. Currently, the Memorial Committee is researching avenues to use the additional funds to enhance and maintain the memorial for years to come.
Again, we wanted to thank you for all your support and generous donations to make the Civil Engineer Memorial a reality. We will be there soon, thanks to all of you!
We also wanted to let you know that due to some recent developments we will need to delay the ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception that we had planned for March 23, 2022. We have rescheduled the event May 4, 2022, at the site of the CE Memorial, adjacent to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB. There were several factors considered including weather impacts that could delay the final installations of the wall and elements to COVID (Omicron) restrictions that continue to keep us from finalizing details like attendance limitation requirements such as crowd size, social distancing, start times, and other factors. We will provide updates as details become known. We advise not making any irrevocable financial or travel plans; the only firm thing is the date of May 4, 2022.
We are tentatively planning a dedication ceremony at 4:30 pm, followed by a reception at 5:30 pm in the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. We will be providing heavy hors d’oeuvre and beverages over a two-hour period, with the Museum remaining open for your enjoyment until 10:00 pm.
Thank you and stay tuned to emails, the AFCEM.net website, the CE Weekly, the CE Facebook site, and other means of communication for updates.
TIMOTHY A. BYERS, Major General, USAF, Ret
Chair, Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial Committee
The Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial Fund Committee is honored to recognize City Light and Power, Inc. http://www.clpinc.com/ for their extraordinary commitment to making the Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial a reality! CLP is at the forefront of today's electric utility industry with a primary focus of leasing or owning utility infrastructure systems that meet their customer’s needs. Their extremely generous $31,000 donation places them in the top-tier category of Palladium Founding Donor. The donation will help fund the foundation of the memorial, a foundation which serves as an actual representation of the relationship between the Air Force Civil Engineers and their corporate partners. Air Force Civil Engineers are tasked with planning, building, protecting, and sustaining installations and facilities worldwide, taskings that could not be achieved without the support of City Light and Power.
The Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial Fund Committee is honored to recognize American States Utility Services, Inc. (ASUS) http://www.asusinc.com/ for their extraordinary commitment to making the Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial a reality! ASUS is committed to serving those who serve with smart infrastructure systems, that allow installations across the country to focus on their own true mission. Their extremely generous $10,000 donation places them in the high-tier category of Platinum Founding Donor and will allow significant progress toward completion of the memorial. Air Force Civil Engineers are tasked with planning, building, protecting, and sustaining installations and facilities worldwide, taskings that could not be achieved without the support of American States Utility Services.
Jacobs Engineering Group
The Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial Fund Committee is honored to recognize Jacobs Engineering Group, https://www.jacobs.com for their extraordinary commitment to making the Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial a reality! Jacobs provides technical, professional and construction services, as well as scientific and specialty consulting for a broad range of clients globally, including companies, organizations, and government agencies. Across their company, across their offices, across the world, they’re continually challenging today to reinvent tomorrow. Their extremely generous $25,000 donation places them in the top-tier category of Palladium Founding Donor. Their donation will fund the Prime BEEF wall of the memorial which represents the Air Force Civil Engineers establishing and sustaining airfield operations at locations where U.S. Air Force aircraft operate. A mission that could not be achieved without the support of Jacobs.
The Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial Fund Committee is honored to recognize American Water, https://www.amwater.com for their extraordinary commitment to making the Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial a reality! American Water has been providing leadership, quality, and value for more than 130 years. They are the largest and most geographically diverse publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company employing more than 7,100 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 14 million people in 46 states. Their extremely generous $25,000 donation places them in the top-tier category of Palladium Founding Donor. Their donation will fund the RED HORSE wall of the memorial which represents RED HORSE units worldwide providing rapid response and independent operations in remote, high threat environments to support worldwide contingencies and special operations. A mission that could not be achieved without the support of American Water.
Signal Point Systems
The Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial Fund Committee is honored to recognize Signal Point Systems, Inc. http://www.sigpoint.com/ for their extraordinary commitment to making the Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial a reality! Signal Point’s overarching objective is to “Improve Mission Effectiveness and Quality of Life for Military Members and Their Families by Enabling a Stronger Network Experience.” They do this by installing wireless networks on military bases. Their extremely generous $30,000 donation places them in the top-tier category of Palladium Founding Donor. Their donation is on behalf of Phil Carrow (CEO) and will fund the front wall of the memorial which supports the Air Force Civil Engineering Badge with winged compass and gear. The badge represents Civil Engineers and their critical mission of planning, building, protecting, and sustaining installations and facilities worldwide, a mission that could not be achieved without the support of Signal Point Systems Inc.
Dominion Energy Company
The Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial Fund Committee is honored to recognize the Dominion Energy Company, https://www.dominionenergy.com/for their extraordinary commitment to making the Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial a reality! Dominion Energy operates in 16 states, offering safe, clean, reliable and affordable energy to nearly 7 million customers. Headquartered in Richmond, VA, they invest in the communities where they live and work while protecting natural resources. Their extremely generous $10,000 donation places them in the category of Platinum Founding Donor and will allow significant progress toward completion of the memorial. Air Force Civil Engineers are tasked with planning, building, protecting, and sustaining installations and facilities worldwide, taskings that could not be achieved without the support of the Dominion Energy Company.
On July 20 2021 the Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial Committee, along with many of the founding donors to the memorial, held a ground breaking ceremony for the new the Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial (AFCEM) near the National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF) at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
Led by Maj Gen (ret) Tim Byers and comprised of retired uniformed and civilian Airmen Engineers, the committee has worked for several years to successfully obtain approval for the memorial from the Air Force, the Air Force Historian, the NMUSAF, and the Director of Civil Engineers. This ground breaking is a significant event in the process and the Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial Committee again wants to thanks all founding donors for their donation large and small. We could not have gotten this far without support from across the Air Force.
The design was developed by Col (ret) Bill Sims and aims to honor all Airmen Engineers through a variety of symbols. This includes a map of the world that shows past and present installation locations and a stainless steel model of the winged compass and gear of the Civil Engineer badge. Engraved messages that salute RED HORSE and Prime BEEF also appear on the knee walls of the granite elements lining the sides of the memorial. In the future, the RED HORSE and Prime BEEF Association will manage an annual update of the memorial, the work contract, and the initial endowment funding, which will be provided by the AFCEM Committee. The committee’s dedicated efforts reflect a commitment to honoring the proud heritage and promising future of the Civil Engineer community. With the location finalized, the AFCEM plans may soon become a reality.
The committee will announce additional progress on the memorial, as well as construction milestone dates and other information pertaining to the final dedication, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the official AFCEM website.
The Memorial is now officially “under construction” with completion estimated in March 2022. If all goes according to plan, we anticipate a ribbon-cutting/dedication ceremony during the week of 21-25 Mar 22. We are excited that this is happening; until now, Air Force Civil Engineers have never had a national, Air Force Memorial .
Here are some pictures taken recently at the ceremony. Photos shown from left to right. The first photo shown are the AFCEM Committee members who were in attendance, (Photo credit to Julia Kolb Woolpert, Inc).
From left to right:
Col Shawn Moore, USAF (ret) member, Stewardship Committee
Col Andra Clapsaddle, USAF (ret) member Stewardship Committee
Maj Gen Tim Byers, USAF (ret) Chairman, Air Force CE Memorial Committee
CMSgt Ken Miller, USAF (ret) Chair, AFCEM Stewardship Committee
CMSgt Don Brannam, USAF (ret) member, Fundraising Committee
Col Jim Kasmer, USAF (ret) Chair, AFCEM Treasurer
The AFCEM Chairman with AF members present (left to right). (Photo Credit to Julia Kolb, Woolpert, Inc.)
Col Laurie Richter, Dean, AFIT School of Engineering.
CMSgt Rob Cullison, A4C Chief of Enlisted Matters.
Maj Gen Tim Byers, USAF (retired Air Force Civil Engineer), Chairman, Air Force CE Memorial Committee
Col Patrick Miller, 88 ABW/CC
The AFCEM Chairman with Founding Donors present (left to right). (Photo Credit to Julia Kolb, Woolpert, Inc.)
Col Anthony (Tony) Davit USAF (ret)
Maj Gen Tim Byers, USAF (ret), Chairman, Air Force CE Memorial Committee
Mercedes Enrique, President, CMS Corporation
The entire group in attendance at the AFCE memorial ground breaking. A great time was had by all. Thank you all for attending. Hope to see you all back again for the ribbon cutting in the Spring of 2022.
On July 20th 2021, CMS Corporation, along with Retired General Tim Byers and representatives from Vandalia Rental, DAYTON WINFASTENER CO., and Alt & Witzig Engineering, Inc. celebrated the groundbreaking of the US Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial at Wright-Patterson AFB. CMS will be heading up the foundation construction team for the Memorial. Once completed, this memorial will be a beautiful and thoughtful addition to the Memorial Park of the National Museum of the US Air Force. We are privileged to be part of it. The entire Memorial Committee is thrilled that so many of our founding donors were able to participate at this superb occasion. We are on our way...
We have Less than 6 months until the next RED HORSE and Prime BEEF Association Convention / Reunion and the dedication of the Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial at the Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson AFB, in Ohio.
You still have time, until December 31 2021, to become a CE Memorial "Founding Donor". Don't let this opportunity get away from you or it would impact your taxes.
All REDHORSE and Prime BEEF individuals, Past and Present, are invited to the RED HORSE & Prime BEEF Association Convention/ Reunion March 21-25, 2022, in Fairborn, Ohio located adjacent to Wright- Patterson AFB.
This reunion coincides with the dedication of the Civil Engineer Memorial at the Air Force Museum so members can attend both activities. Senior Air Force Civil Engineering Leaders both past and present will be in attendance.
Highlights of the convention include a special one-of-a-kind historic aviation tour of original Wright Brother sites, RH & PB updates, Museum tour, and social gatherings. A One-of-a-kind Commemorative coin will also be available.
For more information contact Dick Aldinger at (H) (407) 859-7436, (C) (407) 399-8937; email: [email protected] . or you can visit the RHPBA link on our Memorial website front page, or it is also shown here: www.rhpba.com
CONSTRUCTION IS NOW UNDERWAY
CEMS turned dirt today – construction is now physically underway! Visited the site mid-afternoon today – they’ve made quick work of the site work/excavation (a few quick photos attached for initial reference). Formwork for the large map wall foundation footer will be in place by the end of today, fully prepped for the footer concrete pour tomorrow. Tiffany (Ken Miller’s daughter) was out earlier today taking pictures and will continue each day to chronically document progress. I’ll be there tomorrow for the 1000 ET pour.
Slight glitch early on today when CEMS struck two subsurface lines: small water branch line (under no pressure) and small communications line. Both minor and appear abandoned. Though the NMUSAF approved their digging permit and clearly gave the green-light to proceed, the NMUSAF hadn’t marked any subsurface lines/utilities as being present. In fact there “was” (no longer) a junction box located smack-dab underneath the middle of our memorial “plaza”. Jeff Tinney, CEMS Site PM, and Corwin (Corky) Shelton, Project Super, are lead on this working directly with the NMUSAF. Absolutely no impact on work progressing as planned.
Will provide another update at close of day tomorrow.
Exciting stuff!
Shawn Moore
MORE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE PICTURES FROM OUR RED HORSE BROTHERS
I went to the memorial site this afternoon, they started the dirt work for the initial footer yesterday. The form you see them working on now will be a concrete pour at 1000hrs Thursday then they said another one is planned for next Monday. The way the CMS crew is working you would think they're all past horsemen -- Outstanding operation. I don't plan to go back and take anymore pictures until Monday. They told me they had no problem with me coming around taking pictures.
Stan Irwin
Well, as you can see, all the Memorial parts have arrived, and the construction / assembly is well underway. The USAF CE Memorial will soon be a reality!!!
The Air Force Civil Engineer Memorial Committee continues to lead the development of the memorial, which is slated to open by the spring of 2022.
As you all know, the committee faced a significant challenge in deciding how to visually depict the diverse Civil Engineer mission. The committee ultimately agreed on a uniquely inspirational and informative design developed by Col (ret) Bill Sims. His design aims to honor all Airmen Engineers through a variety of symbols. This includes a map of the world that shows past and present installation locations and a stainless steel model of the winged compass and gear of the Civil Engineer badge. Engraved messages that salute RED HORSE and Prime BEEF also appear on the knee walls of the granite elements lining the sides of the memorial. The committee’s dedicated efforts reflect a commitment to honoring the proud heritage and promising future of the Civil Engineer community. With the location finalized, the plans will soon become a reality.
During the site selection in March, Maj Gen Byers stated “We are standing on the future site of the Air Force CE Memorial. With site approval now secured, we look forward to this representative memorial being prominently and permanently displayed in the shadow of the world’s largest Military Aviation Museum of the world’s greatest Air and Space Force, in their beautiful outdoor Memorial Park for all to experience and enjoy!”
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