Dear Classmate:
27 September, 2008
Last January I sent you a
comprehensive update on our 50th
Reunion Class Gift – the Heritage Trail Project. The original concept revolved
around our final five-year class fund raising
effort. A copy of that letter is available on our class website if you need
to refresh your memory on the specific details.
As you know, for reasons over
which we had no control, we chose to complete the work in segments. Our cost
to complete Phase I (Yellow on this Diagram [click]) totaled $117,332. Attached
are a couple of photos showing Tony Bilello and friends show-casing the
completed first segment work.
We hope to contract Phase II (Purple
on the diagram) in the Spring completing all we can with the cash resources we
have at that time. Our close working
arrangement with the contractor has paid off, as reflected in these pictures. Solid
Earth Inc. continues to be very accommodating and willing to do everything they
can to give us the best for our dollars. I assure you that by the autumn of
2010, our Heritage Trail Project will closely resemble our original conceptual
goal, and it will be something the entire class will be proud of.
I thank each and every one of
you who have already contributed to this project. Please continue to honor
your pledges and even consider paying them off early. For those classmates who
are one of the 75+ who have not made a financial commitment to our last large
class project, I sincerely ask you to reconsider your decision. The cost of
materials has skyrocketed since we began this project and we desperately need
your help. Your participation will truly make this a “Class Project”.
Thank you for your time
Andi Biancur
January 2008
Dear Classmate:
Several of our classmates have asked for
additional information on our 50th Class Reunion Project – The
Heritage Trail Walkway. It is difficult
to clearly define the project in exact detail since it is the initial portion
of an incrementally developing concept that will evolve as history and
tradition dictate.
I will attempt to clarify those aspects
of the project that I can and provide periodic updates outlining progress,
along with photos, as the concept becomes reality.
Heritage Trail Gift Opportunities:
Vietnam Memorial $1
million
Unnamed Memorial (2)
$500,000
Distinguished
Graduate Heritage Endowment $300,000
Honor Code/Core
Values Memorial $250,000
Heritage Trail
Walkway $250,000
Class Memorial
(multiple) $100,000
The vision for the Heritage Trail places
key importance on celebrating the lives and accomplishments of graduates—men
and women who have done great things in service to their country. Included on
the trail is a memorial park, which will eventually include statues, walls,
plaques, and pavilions recognizing Academy graduates and their significant
combat involvement from Vietnam through the current War on Terrorism. The trail
will also recognize the many great accomplishments of graduates in other career
fields.
As written in the original brochure, the
Heritage Trail is an incremental project composed of several “Gift
Opportunities (some listed above). The first part of the trail, Bridges, ponds, etc. was
already done and in place at out last reunion.
We are "just building a sidewalk".
However, it's not a sidewalk to nowhere. The first additional project, the
Vietnam Memorial, was adopted by several classes (it's quite expensive...more
that $1M) and was on track before the BOD debacle. The class of '74 built the replica of the
wall of honor as the appropriate entrance to the Memorial Park. The next thing was to build the walk way so
that the other nodes and memorials could be conceived and funded. We adopted that project. So, in fact, the walk
would lead directly to the Vietnam Memorial which was to be constructed
shortly after our project. It is hoped that will excite veterans of
other conflicts to support class projects to memorialize their combat
experiences. The walk way also includes some infrastructure to include provisions
for electricity and water (drip system for the landscaping) and provisions
for future computer connections at other nodes. It is a "build it and they
will come" thing. (Our
cost includes all of the appropriate “landwork”, which means initial grade and
flattening, etc. The classes will be
responsible for the actual concrete pour for their specific nodes.)
By the way, the distinguished graduates will
NOT be part of the Memorial Park. They will be recognized along another future
walkway leading to an overlook in the direction of the Officers' Club. All of
this is depicted in the master plan retained at the AOG and the Academy.
We started the fund raising campaign
immediately after the reunion for several reasons - first, we realized the
necessary sum was significantly above any previous request and additional time
would facilitate achieving success.
Second, we believed that a campaign covering a 5-year period would be
less burdensome on individuals. And
third, if we could accumulate funds early in the campaign, and using a
pay-forward option then offered by the AOG, we could take advantage of current
construction costs and realize the greatest return for our dollars. In other words, we were aware that material
and labor costs would escalate over time and the sooner we could get on
contract, the more economies we could achieve
With the change in AOG leadership, we
were forced to re-plan. We had to delay
contract signing until we were assured the new Board of Directors would
continue to support this incremental project.
Then, because of re-budgeting necessities within the AOG and the loss of
their ability to pay an early contract in full and recoup their funds through
future pledge completion, we have been forced to split our project into a
minimum of two phases. We will proceed
under the first phase until our on-hand funds are exhausted then structure a second
phase contract to complete all of the work envisioned under our particular
portion, the $250,000 Heritage Trail Walkway.
Rest assured we are working closely with
the contractor, Solid Earth, and the
AOG to achieve all the economies possible.
The AOG and the contractor continue to be very accommodating in making
every effort to assist by working economically.
Each phase may take longer but the only deadline we have to meet is
project completion in time for dedication at the 50th Reunion. More importantly, our portion, the walkway,
provides the lynch pin for the entire Heritage Trail. All succeeding class projects involved with
the trail are hinged on the base being established.
I am attaching a aerial depiction of the
Heritage Trail Walkway Project. Granted,
it is not very descriptive. Since the
trail began as a vision, is being “carved” out of the natural surroundings, and
since succeeding elements are to be designed by their sponsors; it is not
possible to provide any exact descriptions or photographs.
Thank you for your time and
understanding.
Andi
