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2004 MEDIA COVERAGE-from-The Reporter-Times Editorials |
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Click here for Media Coverage 2003 |
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09/26/2004 |
Reporter Times Feature Photo |
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09/26/2004 |
Lights bring new glow to Veterans Memorial Park |
| 08/22/2004 | |
| 06/27/2004 |
Widows to help fund lights for monument in tribute to memory of veteran husbands |
| 06/01/2004 | Freedom Is Not Free |
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04/11/2004 |
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04/11/2004 |
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03/23/2004 |
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01/08/2004 |
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As shown here, the new globe lights illuminate the park, the commemorative bricks, the flagpoles and the monuments at the Veterans Memorial in Martinsville. Photo by Elmer Reynolds
Lights bring new glow to Veterans Memorial Park
By Amy Hillenburg
ahillenb@reportert.com
Electrical contractor Gerald
Gray adjusts one of the four globe lights at the Veterans Memorial in
Martinsville. The lights are sensitive to fading light and start to glow shortly
after dusk. Four Morgan County veterans' families donated money for the lights
so people could visit the memorial in the evening. Photo by Elmer Reynolds. MARTINSVILLE
The Morgan County Veterans Memorial Park, considered by many to be one of the
best small-town memorials in the country, just got a little better this past
week. Gerald Gray and members of the Veterans Memorial Committee finished the
installation of four 14-foot ornate light poles with colonial-style lamps.
Elmer Reynolds, Veterans Memorial Project coordinator, said, "The lighting system now illuminates the park for the nighttime enjoyment of all who come to pay honor to our veterans. The new lighting system makes our park a 24-hour-a-day, around-the-clock place of honor. Now people can come in the evening and view the bricks, study the scenes on the granite memorials and read the honor roll of servicemen who paid the supreme sacrifice for our country."
The lights have a sensor, which makes them automatically come on when darkness sets in.
Reynolds could hardly contain his enthusiasm while waiting for the final touch to the park, "which honors all of our Morgan County veterans," he said.
He added: "How can we ever express adequately our appreciation to Gerry Gray for the dedication and hard work he donated to install our lighting system? When the lights came on for the first time as darkness settled on the park, the glow that illuminated the commemorative bricks and our impressive monuments just filled our hearts with pride. They gave a new dimension to experiencing the tribute to our veterans."
Reynolds reminded citizens who could now visit the Veterans Memorial Park at night that the widows and families of the late Albert "Dutch" Allen, Luther Curtis, Bill Poe and Richard Teeters generously donated the money to purchase the lights.
A bronze plaque honoring these late veterans and expressing appreciation to those families has been ordered. The bronze is being designed and produced by the Piqua Granite and Monument Company — the same firm that built and installed the granite monuments. The bronze plaque will be installed on a jet-black granite beveled stone and placed near the base of one of the light poles. Reynolds said veterans might plan a dedication service for the lights sometime before Veterans Day, which falls on Nov. 11 this year.
Veteran's Web site collecting awards
By Amy Hillenburg
ahillenb@reportert.com
Sunday August 22,
2004
Margaret Dillman, left, representing the Morgan County Veterans Memorial, and Amy Hicks, designer for the Morgan County veterans Web site, received a Gold Award from the American Association of Webmasters and a Bronze Award from the World Wide Web Awards. Courtesy photo.
MORGAN COUNTY
When Amy Hicks of Web Images and Margaret Dillman of Morgan County Veterans Memorial Committee decided to put together a Web site for the memorial, they never dreamed it would earn 12 different design awards. What thrilled the Martinsville women most was garnering the Gold Award from the American Association of Webmasters and a Bronze honor from the World Wide Web Awards.
Dillman said that during the first month the site was on-line, it received 10,000 hits from people all over the world. The Web site is jam-packed with information. It includes an online store, media coverage, photo galleries, commemorative brick order form, a guest book for veterans to sign, the history of the Veterans Memorial Project at O'Neal Park in Martinsville and much more.
"We started with three pages on the Web site, and we now have 72 pages. There's a database of names on more than 2,000 bricks that are laid on the Memorial Walk of Honor listed on the Web site and an account of the two Morgan County Medal of Honor recipients," Hicks said.
"We also have a register of Morgan County servicemen who were 'Killed In Action' and whose names are etched on the KIA Monument," she added. "The site was posted on-line in February and within three to four months, these awards started coming in — we couldn't believe it."
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Creativity rewarded
Hicks said the site is unique because of her flash design.
"People in the community love to look at it," she said. "But now that it's up and running, we've had not only local folks and former residents who live elsewhere, but people from all over the U.S., look through every letter of the alphabet to find a friend or family member. This has been so rewarding to both of us."
In a letter to Hicks and the veterans memorial committee (Dillman), World Wide Web Awards founder Donna Snyder said, "Congratulations for outstanding Web site development demonstrating high ethics, exceptional creativity and exquisite design and approach to the World Wide Web Community. Not only did this site impress us with its incredible design, but it literally had us mesmerized with its awesome music and video presentations."
Donald Taylor, CEO of the American Association of Webmasters Awards Committee, agreed.
"We see all the hard work and dedication that you have put into constructing your Web site, and your efforts are well-deserved," he wrote. "Your site displays excellent design and layout of a Web site, with quality content and informative information for your visitors. This award (Gold) is the highest achievement a webmaster can receive."
The Web site features music by Morgan County veteran Cliff Trowbridge and documentation by Dillman, wife of Morgan County Veterans Memorial Committee chairman Wayne Dillman. Hicks said the Web site had also won awards from ADSoft Web Award, Design Excellence, Web Design Hard Work Award, Creativity Award of Excellence, the Patriotic and Liberty Award, Blue Knight Patriotic Web site Award, Thumbs-up Site Award, Patriotic Eagle Award, Web Design of Hard Work and Seal of Patriotism Award.
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Two women combine talents
A veterans museum was opened with memorabilia, photos and displays for visitors on Saturdays. But Dillman said the Veterans Memorial Committee members (Wayne Dillman, Merrill St. John, Elmer Reynolds and Ed Williams) longed to have a computer database and Web site for people to find information on veterans and educational facts about the memorial. They wanted it to be a place for Morgan County veterans and veterans from all over the country to connect and recall their past.
Dillman began to research Web-site creations and the purchase of a domain name (dot-com address). At the same time, she met Hicks, who was purchasing a commemorative brick for her husband, Bruce, a Morgan County veteran. Originally from Greensburg, Hicks moved to the Martinsville area when she met her husband. The couple have a son, Wil, who is 3A years old.
"I was a photographer for 12 years, shooting weddings and portraits." Hicks said. "I have always tinkered with computers. But when I was employed in the technical department of MAG Inc. in Centerton, one of my mentors, Rod Fye, introduced me to the in-depth core of the technology world. After that, the obsession began. I think my photography background mixed with my new passion brought me to where I am today."
She was soon captivated with creating Web site graphics, and continued this as a side job. Eventually, Hicks started Web Images, offering Web-site technology and her graphic expertise to the public. She has clients purchase their own domain and hosting — charging them for her Web-site design, graphics and training. This allows the customers to do their own site maintenance — changing pertinent information such as dates, names, pictures and events news — while getting hands-on computer experience.
Hicks also does promotional packages with logos, business cards, brochures, stationery and envelopes. She taught Dillman, who has a natural bent for writing, to maintain the site with veterans' pictures, a regular newsletter and guest book.
"Margaret uses good wording and interesting phrases to make the Web site come alive for guests. She and I have worked hand-in-hand on this," Hicks said.
She explained that the hardest part of setting up a site is getting registered on the Web, creating the codes and tags required, and receiving a prominent rank on the search engines. Each one is different, and someone must monitor the site's position on a regular basis.
"You can have 10 Web sites out there, but if no one can find it, they are worthless," Hicks said.
The Web partners warned others who would like to start up a Web site to shop around before they purchase their domain and have their Web site built.
"Companies are basically charging whatever they want because the average person doesn't know the business. They were going to charge Margaret $300 for a domain name, and you can get one for about $15 to $20 a year," Hicks said. "Check around, because most Web designers, myself included, offer free initial consultation on prices. Make sure you understand what they are saying. Ask questions about technical terms you don't understand."
She added that every site is so uniquely different that you can't put a single price on one. "There are free sites that are available, but be aware that with free sites you are going to get a lot of pop-ups and have other issues."
"It's so great to see the response to our veterans memorial project," Dillman said. It's been the bigger part of my life and my husband's life for the past three years."
The official Web site is www.mcvm.us, or people can access the site simply by typing in Morgan County Veterans Memorial. Hicks can be reached at (765) 342-9553 or by e-mail at ahicks@webimages.us.
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Widows to help fund lights for monument in tribute to
memory of veteran husbands
By Amy Hillenburg
ahillenb@reportert.com
Sunday June 27,
2004
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What many residents have already described as the best small town/small county veterans memorial in the country will be getting even better during the early weeks of July. With a pair of jet-black granite monuments already in place, and more than 2,000 red commemorative bricks put down on the "Walk of Freedom," some would think that Morgan County's tribute to its veterans was complete. A black, ornate fence was even added to enclose the area. However, the Morgan County Veterans' Memorial Committee has not been content to rest on its laurels. Members realized that evening and nighttime attendance by visitors could be among the busiest hours. With the help of four Morgan County widows, organizers are planning a grand finishing touch — a lighting system to illuminate the bricks and monuments.
Elmer Reynolds, Hoosier Times columnist and coordinator for the Veterans' Memorial Project, shared the story behind the financing for the lights. "It is one of the most inspiring examples of the wide public support that the Veterans' Memorial Project has had since the very beginning — nearly three years ago," he said. Reynolds said he had a conversation with Pam Lanham, whose father, the late Colonel Albert "Dutch" Allen, was a well-known and highly regarded Martinsville businessman and World War II veteran. Reynolds said he was suddenly inspired with an idea of how the lighting project could be funded. "Colonel Dutch Allen was one of my longtime friends and earliest boosters for our memorial. I knew for certain that if he were still alive, he would have been one of our biggest boosters and financial supporters," Reynolds said. "When I talked to Pam about the lights, without hesitation, she offered to purchase one of them for her mother, Allene Allen, to honor her father, Col. Albert Allen."
As Reynolds talked to Lanham, it occurred to him that some of his very best friends had been Dutch Allen, Luther Curtis, Bill Poe (Poe's Cafeteria) and Richard Teeters. "Since all of them were World War II veterans, and their widows were so supportive of our memorial efforts, why not inquire of these friends if they would consider underwriting the cost of the lighting project?" Reynolds said. Reynolds added that the four women had already given generously to the memorial project. "When I realized that our Veterans' Memorial Committee could honor these deserving World War II veterans in return, I thought it might be appropriate to ask these dear friends of mine — Allene Allen, Glendyn Curtis, Bobbie Poe and Nancy Teeters — what they thought of this idea," Reynolds said.
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Much to his surprise and heartfelt gratitude, Reynolds said all four widows told him they were willing to donate funds to underwrite the cost of the lighting for the memorial at O'Neal Park in Martinsville. The memorial committee plans to order a bronze plaque and mount it on a granite base to be placed in the park. "It will express appreciation to these Martinsville families, whose gratitude for their husbands' military service will now make it possible for hundreds of others to view and enjoy the memorial at night," Reynolds said.
Luther Curtis served as an Ordnance officer in General George Patton's Army, and Pfc. Richard L. Teeters also served with Gen. Patton. Col. Albert Allen served with the Army in World War II and was a retired Airman. Lt. William Poe served with the Army, and all four veterans fought in the war's European theater. Their widows are Martinsville natives and graduates of Martinsville High School. Some recalled having classes together.
Reynolds said Cinergy PSI and Northern Lights Lighting and Consulting of Plainfield have been working with local electrical contractor Gerald Gray in developing a plan for the park lighting project. Cinergy PSI district manager Kerry Vestile visited the Morgan County Veterans' Memorial in late winter, and it was his friendship with longtime (now retired) PSI engineer Mike Isaacs that got the lighting project steered in the right direction. Isaacs told Reynolds that the lighting system should provide a soft park light environment for the memorial grounds. In his proposal to the memorial committee, Isaacs recommended four fixtures to be placed in the park — to illuminate the monuments and the commemorative bricks. Poles will come from W.J. Whatley and will be 14 feet tall in the fluted, straight direct embedded style. A urethane, black enamel coating will make up the finish on both the pole and light fixtures. Isaacs said he wants to keep the lights about the same height as the monuments so they will not distract from the focal point of the park. A 150-watt metal halide lamp, a white light, will provide the needed lighting. He estimated the total cost for the lights would be slightly more than $7,000.
Reynolds said the entire Veterans' Memorial Committee is deeply grateful for the support they've received for the lights from the citizens and the businesses involved. He noted that the businessmen offered their advice and assistance at no charge to the memorial committee. "When the lighting project is completed," Reynolds said, "I can think of no greater honor to our late friends and World War II veterans, their wives and families, than giving others the opportunity to enjoy the park during the twilight and evening hours."
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Freedom Is Not Free
By Melody Schubert
Tuesday June 1, 2004
The
sacrifice of all Veterans and those serving our country now, reminds us that
freedom is not free.
One Memorial which makes this point clear is located 30 miles south of Indianapolis in Martinsville, Indiana. Martinsville is home to the Fall Foliage Festival famous for hometown fun and a parade that travels along the beautiful tree-lined streets past some of the area's most beautiful historic homes. The growing community was once known for its Mineral Water & Spas that attracted visitors from around the world to this humble town. Today visitors also come to visit two extraordinary pieces of black granite artwork that rest across the street from the town square downtown at the Morgan County Veterans Memorial Park.
The first Memorial honors 149 of Morgan Counties Hometown Heroes who were killed in the line of duty during World War I & II, Korean & Vietnam Conflicts, and the War on Terrorism. The second Memorial dedicated on Sunday November 2nd 2003 honors Veterans the world over from these tragic events in American History. Wayne Dillman of the Veterans Committee said during preparations for the dedication, "This is a tribute to men and women fighting for our freedom." The Veterans Committee worked behind the scenes to develop the program to raise funds for the Morgan County Veterans Memorial. The kick off of their fundraiser began in early November of 2001 at Martinsville High School. In time the Veteran Committee gathered with the artist of the project and went over many photographs before settling on the impressive images to be used in the memorial.
These beautiful images capture the emotional moments in time shared by actual men who participated in the wars. Those who knew these men would recognize them from the detail etchings the artist portrayed. Among the historical images visitors will find on the beautiful black granite panels are etchings of:
-- World War I, that lasted from 1914 to 1918.
-- World War II fought from 1939 to 1945.
-- Normandy, June 6, 1944, the day the Allied forces invaded France during World
War II.
-- Korean Conflict, which lasted from 1950 to 1953, and images of the Flying
Tigers and the Famous Flying Hump that
delivered supplies into China.
-- Vietnam Conflict fought from 1954 to 1975.
-- Missile Ships, the B2 Bomber, Stealth Bomber, and Black Hawk Helicopter also
come to life upon the black granite
surface.
-- The attack on World Trade Center Towers is also portrayed in vivid detail.
These images are
already etched in our memories. Now they serve to
preserve the memory of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. The
dedication of Morgan County Veterans Memorial began with a Hog Roast. A
Barbershop Quartet entertained the crowd before the Rolling Thunder Veterans and
the Blue Knights, local law enforcement, rode their motorcycles passed the
Memorial Park to honor Veterans. Within the museum next door the Memorial Park
guests gathered to view numerous pictures and artifacts related to the wars our
nation has fought in, including Operation Freedom. Among these artifacts are
newspaper clippings, models of planes and ships, a selection on books on wars
related to the memorials and plaques honoring Hometown Heroes.
To be an American
is to understand that Freedom Is Not Free. Our soldiers are still fighting here
at home and abroad to preserve our way of life, and will continue to do so, if
needed, in the future. A poem written upon one of the panels of Morgan County
Veterans Memorial best describes this:
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Freedom Is Not Free
I was that which others did not want to be.
I went where others feared to go and did what others failed to do.
I asked nothing from those who gave nothing and reluctantly accepted the thought
of eternal loneliness.
Should I fail I have seen the face of terror, felt the stinging cold of fear and
enjoyed the sweet taste of a moments love, I have cried, pained and hoped.
But most of all, I have lived times others would say were best forgotten.
At least someday, I will be able to say that I was proud of what I was...
A Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, Coast Guardsman, Merchant Marine.
On the front panels of Morgan County Veterans Memorial it is written:
In Honor to those who served,
let us not forget,
in gratitude to those now serving.
The Memorial Park is a place where everyone can relax and meditate. The Walk of Honor through the park is laid with about 1700 bricks honoring the memory of family and friends who helped keep our country free. This site is also a exhibit of history for future generations and area youth to explore and celebrate the memory of their loved ones.
Donations continue to be accepted to help pay for the Morgan County Veterans Memorial and fund future projects. Guests who visit the Museum can also purchase bricks that will be engraved with the names of their friends and family that will be placed on the Walk of Honor. You do not need to be a resident of Morgan County to have a brick for this memorial. The Museum is open on Saturdays from 9 to 12pm. For future information about the museum, memorial, or to make a donation in honor of a loved one you may contact Wayne Dillman; Morgan County Veterans Memorial, 330 Grassyfork Lane, Martinsville, IN 46151. (765) 342-9698.
© Copyright 2003 by Magic City Morning Star
