Military Family Statue to be Unveiled Sept. 30th @10am!
Posted by Greg Stevens
We are coming to the end of a 2 plus year Hawk's Prairie Rotary project! The Statue titled "In Support of Military Families" will be dedicated and installed on Saturday Sept. 30th at 10am!
Hawk's Prairie Rotarians have a right to be jubilant in December of 2004, then President Jim Rydland sent a letter to some 2500 Military March Supporters, describing the Statue project and asking for financial help to pull the project off! It was estimated at that time, that the project would cost somewhere near $100,000. President Jim Rydland, took up the charge seriously, and made it Hawk's Prairie Rotary's Centennial Project. The City of Lacey, ponied up $20,000 to help make this project happen, not only that, City Mgr. Greg Couio started meetings with the club and the Developer of the Home Depot site, talking about a possible location for the statue. The Developer, excited about the project, spent considerable time and resources to fund and build the Statue's formal home, complete with flagpoles, landscaping and concrete architecture. His part of the project alone amounts to around $250,000! Bob Kagy of ABC Printing, developed a lithograph, after artist Garreth Curtis put together an artist's rendering of the actual statue, and it was sold , and is still being sold to raise money for the statue project. I might add that Bob neither charged for the printing or the paper for the project. This statue was inspired by the success of the Al Eckroth conceived March to Support Military Families, all the while growing in stature and complexity. During Jim Rydland's reign as HP Rotary President, Honorary member, Evelyne Betti stepped forward and donated $50,000 to the project. This put the event within our grasp. Another $20,000 was pledged from the City of Lacey. They have also agreed to maintain the site after completion. The other major donors are America's Credit Union and Venture Bank who have given $10,000. The Steve Boone foundation have also donated $5000 toward the project . After Jim Rydland left town, Hawk's Prairie Rotary's Charter President, Joseph Beaulieu of Venture Bank took over the charge to finish up this project. Then we had to schedule dignitaries and timing with the artist to actually finish and install the Military Statue in it's final resting place on Sept. 30th, 2006.This is your invitation to attend what will be a significant accomplishment by all concerned with this 5 year old Rotary Club, The Rotary Club of Hawk's Prairie-Lacey. Please be proud of your accomplishment. Dick Drew, Centennial Past District Governor of Rotary District 5020 will be on hand to read a declaration for the President of Rotary International, also Mayor of Lacey Virgil Clarkson and several dignitaries from Fort Lewis, McChord AFB, Camp Murray and other military installations will attend as well as Artist Garreth Curtis ...You plan on being there too!
Hawk's Prairie Rotarians have a right to be jubilant in December of 2004, then President Jim Rydland sent a letter to some 2500 Military March Supporters, describing the Statue project and asking for financial help to pull the project off! It was estimated at that time, that the project would cost somewhere near $100,000. President Jim Rydland, took up the charge seriously, and made it Hawk's Prairie Rotary's Centennial Project. The City of Lacey, ponied up $20,000 to help make this project happen, not only that, City Mgr. Greg Couio started meetings with the club and the Developer of the Home Depot site, talking about a possible location for the statue. The Developer, excited about the project, spent considerable time and resources to fund and build the Statue's formal home, complete with flagpoles, landscaping and concrete architecture. His part of the project alone amounts to around $250,000! Bob Kagy of ABC Printing, developed a lithograph, after artist Garreth Curtis put together an artist's rendering of the actual statue, and it was sold , and is still being sold to raise money for the statue project. I might add that Bob neither charged for the printing or the paper for the project. This statue was inspired by the success of the Al Eckroth conceived March to Support Military Families, all the while growing in stature and complexity. During Jim Rydland's reign as HP Rotary President, Honorary member, Evelyne Betti stepped forward and donated $50,000 to the project. This put the event within our grasp. Another $20,000 was pledged from the City of Lacey. They have also agreed to maintain the site after completion. The other major donors are America's Credit Union and Venture Bank who have given $10,000. The Steve Boone foundation have also donated $5000 toward the project . After Jim Rydland left town, Hawk's Prairie Rotary's Charter President, Joseph Beaulieu of Venture Bank took over the charge to finish up this project. Then we had to schedule dignitaries and timing with the artist to actually finish and install the Military Statue in it's final resting place on Sept. 30th, 2006.This is your invitation to attend what will be a significant accomplishment by all concerned with this 5 year old Rotary Club, The Rotary Club of Hawk's Prairie-Lacey. Please be proud of your accomplishment. Dick Drew, Centennial Past District Governor of Rotary District 5020 will be on hand to read a declaration for the President of Rotary International, also Mayor of Lacey Virgil Clarkson and several dignitaries from Fort Lewis, McChord AFB, Camp Murray and other military installations will attend as well as Artist Garreth Curtis ...You plan on being there too!