United States Central Command
Memorial Foundation

THE MEMORIAL

07-01-2010:  

We have now entered Phase two. It's never too late to become part of a great project and we need your help.  The Central Command Memorial structure is 95% complete at MacDill AFB.  It stands proudly in front of the new JOINT INTELLIGENCE Command Headquarters Building.  

This was the tough part with delays arising from the needs of the war, the many changes in support personnel in both Washington and at the Command and the incredible modernization of the facilities at  MacDill.  Just when we got to make friends it seems they were off to the theatre.  It's taken a long time since the project was first envisioned in the early part of the century.  It's taken ten years.

But the story has a happy ending. Look what has happened.  We are situated in close proximity to the main building, we have a beautiful lake right next door fitting in perfectly in both size and architectural composition. Pictures are scattered throughout the site.

It adds a tremendous amount of depth to the project. The host engineering services provided by the 6th Air Wing were exemplary. When you see it, the lake, the new CENTCOM Headquarters building and the Memorial make the total picture right.

The statuary will be in transit this month all the way from Colorado. These are male and female life sized figures and the resolution and the detailing is superb. The close up view of the bronzes will reveal the attention to detail down to the pictures of her family she carried in her helmet.  Soldier and Mom, protector and provider.

You will see a watch on the mole gear of the kneeling Sargent. Note the time on his watch, it was the same in hours and minutes when the US was attacked in NY on 911.  See "The Story of the Statues.

These representations were taken from troops who have served  in the AOR and the detail captured by Scott Stearman is beyond imagination to be duplicated so authentically.

PRESS RELEASE: 

       

The BOARD, THE ARCHITECT and the BUILDER

St. Petersburg FL  (January 18th, 2008) After almost seven years of planning, conference's, estimates,  progress, regression, revisions, success and frustration, that's all in the past now.  The 

Board of Directors of the CENTCOM MEMORIAL FOUNDATION are pleased to announce that on Friday the 18th of January 2008, the contract to build the CENTCOM MEMORIAL was awarded and issued.  The documents were signed and issued at the offices of C. Randolph Wedding, Architect. Not more than 45 days later the ground clearing and site preparation began.

THE ARCHITECT

The architectural design and plans are by the renowned Architect C. Randolph Wedding of Wedding and Associates, Architects, Inc. 
In over forty years of practice, the Wedding firm has been a leader in shaping the built environment of the Tampa Bay area.  Their portfolio includes local landmarks such as the original Busch Gardens in Tampa and the Florida Power (now Ceridian) headquarters in St. Petersburg, and encompasses literally millions of square feet of commercial, office, multi-family, industrial and educational buildings. 

”THE BUILDER: 

The company with the winning bid is HALFACRE Construction Company of Sarasota Florida. They have a great deal of experience in this arena having previously built Memorials, and varied local projects, at MacDill AFB and other Tampa Bay locations.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND:
The plans were reviewed in Washington for approval by the House of Representatives, the Secretary of Defense, the Department of Defense and the United States Senate.  This took quite a while as is the norm with Washington these days. Wars put things on back burners. This is the procedure that needed to be followed even though we are not using government funding, all of our funds have come from donations and the hearts of those that care.  No government funding is used in the Memorial.

CHANGES OF COMMAND:  UPDATED 7/2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis is the Pentagon’s pick to lead U.S. Central Command, the final personnel change in a shake-up brought about by last month’s dismissal of former AFGHANISTAN Commander Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal. he has to be confirmed by Congress.

General James N. Mattis, USMC 

is the current Commander of United States Joint Forces Command, a post held since November 9, 2007. He previously served concurrently as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation from November 9, 2007 to September 8, 2009. Prior to that, he commanded I Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Forces Central Command, and 1st Marine Division during the Iraq War.

Lieutenant General John R. Allen, Acting Commander

Lieutenant General John R. Allen became Acting Commander, United States Central Command, on 30 June, 2010.

The Board worked in behalf with no less than three Changes of Command, before General Petraeus took over at CENTCOM. With General PETRAEUS assuming command of the Afghanistan theatre situation, LT. GEN John R. Allen became Acting Commander.

We have been privileged to have worked with and appreciate the courtesies extended by the Command and wish to mention the Commanders past. They include General Tommy Franks, General John Abizaid, Admiral William J. Fallon (as the first Navy admiral to command Centcom) and Lieutenant General Martin E. Dempsey, Acting Commander during the transition. 

Our team has remained the same.  In the photograph from left to right is Vice President Julia Baker, President Ellie Scarfone-Malanowski, and our Treasurer. David L. Troop. 

LOCATION:
MacDill is a former Air Force bomber training facility and hosts CENTCOM, SOCOM, NOAA, JCCINT,  and other major commands that defy the alphabet. The Air Force is tasked with the physical  parameters and logistics of building a project such as this.  Thus, adjustments were necessary as the cost of building the Memorial has escalated over the seven years. This is due to rising material costs, site changes, finishing expenditures and the availability of resources to complete the project.  Materials alone have escalated 100%.  Never the less, we are on target, and now we have to think in terms of perpetuity.  Your continuing donations are essential.

Literally there is more building going on at MacDill than can be imagined. Many of the facilities were prior to WWII and in dire need of upgrading.  We were just part of a huge expansion of the faciliies and diversity of staff and logistics.  The base is one of the major Air Force refueling operational units and the home of the Sixth wing.

A special thank you to our patrons and friends who realized there have been more pressing moments in Congress these past few years and we thank those who have supported the Memorial with patience, friendship and loyalty.  You have been the heroes and helped us to get through the long process.  Again, thank you ALL for your patience and support.  It has taken longer than expected but we are diligent and pressing forth at every opportunity.

Mrs. Ellie Scarfone-Malanowski 

President, Chairman of the Board

 
Mrs. Julia Baker

Vice President and Secretary

David L. Troop

Treasurer 

Al Jacobson

Board Member, PR, WEB, COM,

WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW!

We need your help and the help of the community who are part of the support for our troops.

Your checks can be mailed to:
US CENTCOM Memorial Foundation
P. O. BOX  6095
MacDill AFB
Tampa, FL 33618

TAMPA BAY AREA (727) 799-6114     Toll Free: (877) 841-0008 
Fax: (727) 321-3779
  •  WEBSITE BOOKMARK   www.centcommemorial.org  

  •  ALTERNATE    www.centcommemorial.com

•  WEBSITE EMAIL:  info@centcommemorial.org 

Webmeister:  

For Links, Fast answers, Contacts, Donations, 

Pickups, Support in Tampa Bay, contact

EMail:  ajacobs2@tampabay.rr.com  or 

(727) 812-8101