To all AOH, LAOH Members and Friends of the Medal of Honor Grove,
The inclement weather these last few weeks has brought down a large number of branches and a few trees in the Medal of Honor Grove. The Board of the Friends of the Medal of Honor Grove is asking for the help once again from all AOH,LAOH members, families and your friends in this much needed cleanup. The fallen branches have made it almost impossible to do any grass cutting. Cleanup days, from 8:00am to 12noon, have been set for Saturdays,September 24 and October 1. You may volunteer for either day, but the AOH has been asked to concentrate on October 1st. Primarily the job will be picking up branches, but we can use a few chainsaws, small trailers, pickup trucks, mowers and weed whackers.
Flood waters have come through the area of the AOH obelisk. There was a fear from a couple of the members of the Board that the base of the AOH and the KofC obelisk would wash out and we would lose these monuments. It had been recommend by an engineering firm that both of these obelisks be moved to higher ground. On closer inspection by myself and two more members of the Grounds Committee it has been determined that the problem can be solved by building an earthen berm about 25 feet behind the obelisk and down to the small creek where the water will be diverted. To build the berm 3 or 4 trees will have to be removed in the area, so bring you chainsaws.There is a natural valley approximately 30 feet behind our obelisk this is where the flood waters originated. These flood waters are a rare occurrence and in any event the obelisks would not have to be removed.
The road area between the AOH and KofC obelisk has been a major concern. This area of the road floods in small rain storms and with thawing snow. While diverting the water away from the AOH obelisk will correct that problem, it will cause a greater problem in the road area. There is a pipe under the roadway that travels about three hundred feet underground but without manhole covers or grates it can’t be determined if there is a blockage. The grounds committee has been authorized to spend a large sum of money to correct the problem. The road way is a major concern because this area is at the very entrance of the Medal of Honor Grove and can give visitors a negative impression as they enter the Grove.
Future planned improvements for the Grove are for underground wiring for lighting on the 53 obelisks and the two flagpoles at each obelisk. Preliminary figures for a yearly cost of the electricity seem to be minimal at this time. The biggest expense, of course, would be for the installation of the underground wiring. Also, two new flagpoles for each obelisk will possibly be donated by the Ruritans. The AOH may want to consider,after the bern and road work is completed, installing 13 flagpoles for those countries represented on our obelisk.The LAOH may also want to consider planting their tree at this time. Georgia, South Carolina and Puerto Rica are planning new obelisks as well.
All Medal of Honor recipients will be honored and represented in the Grove. An inventory is being made to determine the names and number of missing plaques. Some have been damaged and all will be replaced. It has also been noted that no new ground plaques or names on the obelisk have been added in 15 years. This will all be rendered as quickly as possible. Kiosks are also being considered that will give the name of the Medal of Honor recipient, their rank, war and details on how he or she earned the Medal. A bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln is being donated to FF and since the Medal of Honor originated during the Lincoln adminstration and the Civil War, the FF has designated a place near the entrance of the Grove as a fitting tribute to all who earned the medal.
The first fundraiser dinner is scheduled for Saturday, October 22nd. At $500.00 per person, noteably, it will be out of the reach for most individuals, but some organizations may want to send a representative. Several have already made a considerable donation. Six Medal of Honor recipients will be in attendance. In the afternoon of the 22nd a wreath laying ceremony is planned at Camilla Hall cemetery, at the grave of Sister Marie Veronica. Several of the Medal of Honor recipients plan to attend this ceremony. (More details on the ceremony in a future e mail.)
Mick Dunleavy
