EVENTS - Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial

EVENTS

Events from the initial idea for a memorial in 1995 - to - present:

September 6 2010	Installed and dedicated POW/MIA bench > view image <
August 18 2010	Honor Flight fund raising auction at Shorewood Senior Campus
August 7 2010	Partnered with Kahler Hotel to hold Military Appreciation Day at Olmsted Fair
June 26 2010	10th Anniversary program at Memorial featuring Tomb of the Unknown
May 20 2010	Installed last of 546 pavers from Memorial to Cannons
May 15 2010	Honor Flight to Washington
April 3 2010	Honor Flight to Washington
April 1 2010	Paid $25,000.00 to the City of Rochester for Memorial maintenance
December 12 2009	Wreaths Across America program at New Life Worship
November 11 2009	Held Veterans Day program at New Life Worship Center with free Breakfast
July 4 2009	Tomb of the Unknown program at Peace Plaza
May 25 2009	Memorial Day Program > view image <
February 9 2009	Paid $23,000.00 to the City of Rochester for Memorial maintenance > view image <
December 10 2008	Wreaths Across America program at new Life Worship
November 11 2008	Held Veterans Day program at New Life Worship Center with free Breakfast
December 9 2007	Wreaths Across America program at New Life Worship
November 11 2007	Held Veterans Day program at New Life Worship Center with free Breakfast
September 26 2007	Received “More Than You Know” award for Memorial > view image <
September 23 2006	Support the Troops Rally III held at Memorial > view image <
August 26 2006	Dedicated Nurse/Medic Statue with Bob Dole as speaker > view image <
August 24 2006	Installed 2385 Flags in football field behind Memorial
August 6 2006	Added 330 pavers
July 2006	Gave Rochester Area Foundation $500,000.00 to invest. The Interest earned to be used for perpetual maintenance for the Memorial > view image <
July 2006	Turned over ownership of Memorial to the City Rochester
November 11 2005	Held Veterans Day program at New Life Worship Center with free Breakfast
September 24 2005	Dedicated the Soldier Statue at 6th Street entrance
June 25 2005	Support the Troops Rally II held at Memorial
November 11 2004	First Veteran's Day program held at Mayo Civic Auditorium with free breakfast served to over 500, courtesy of Canadian Honker Restaurant & Lounge
September 31 2004	Dedicated statue of "Widow and Child" at Memorial > view image <
July 25 2004	The 420 additional pavers were installed south of the Wall of Remembrance
May 30 2004	Memorial Day ceremony held at Memorial
December 24 2003	The WW-I and the Iraqi canons were refurbished and installed
November 11 2003	Veterans Day program held at Memorial
September 18 2003	Frank Kottschade committed $70,000.00 for the installation of a statue of a nurse. Committee formed to research it.
August 21 2003	Scott Nelson selected as sculpture for Woman and Child statue
May 30 2003	Memorial Day ceremony held at Memorial
April 13 2003	Support the Troops Rally held at Memorial
January 3 2003	Exhibits commemorating Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial and 173d installed at City Hall
December 28 2002	Candlelight vigil held for POW/MIAs
November 11 2002	Veterans Day program held at Memorial
September 28 2002	Charles Lindberg, last survivor of Iwo Jima flag raising attends ceremony remembering the event.
September 27 2002	Ceremony to honor South Vietnamese bench held.
September 24 2002	Ex- POWs National Reunion
September 9 2002	Outside wall engraving finished
May 30 2002	Memorial Day ceremony held at Memorial
May 18 2002	Program featuring Charles Lindberg, last survivor of Iwo Jima flag raising, and Tom Shepers, a wounded Vietnam vet who ran from coast to coast.
.November 11 2001	Veterans Day program held at Memorial
September 27 2001	Governor Ventura lays his tree paver at Memorial
September 30 2001	Finished installing pavers
May 29 2001	Memorial Day ceremony held at memorial
March 15 2001	Engraving on outside walls finished.
November 11 2000	First Veterans Day program held at Memorial
October 2000	Memorial selected for CUDE Award from city for new construction.
September 25 2000	Charles Lindberg speaks to LST 588 reunion at Memorial
August 30 2000	School kick off meeting for teachers held at Memorial.
June 25 2000	Memorial dedicated in conjunction with 173d Airborne reunion
June 24 2000	Masons held dedication ceremony at Memorial
June 24 2000	Carl Beeler, WW II Veteran walked from Turo, Iowa, 250 miles to the Memorial > view image <
June 24 2000	Fifth U.S. Air Force veterans, stationed in Japan from 1946 to 1958, held reunion in Rochester
June 20 2000	Rochester Fest booth set up to sell pavers, medallions and pins.
June 14 2000	Civil War plaque installed at base of Eagle at Memorial.
May 29 2000	Memorial Day ceremony held at Memorial
May 20 2000	Set up food stand at Sam's Club
May 5 2000	Final of 2574 pavers installed
April 14 2000	Minnesota House of Representatives honors Memorial work with a proclamation.
May 31 1999	Memorial Day ceremony held at Memorial
April 2000	Eagle monument moved to entrance of memorial.
December 7 1999	Flag raising ceremony held at Memorial.
November 13 1999	Fundraiser auction in conjunction with People of Hope Church held.
September 1999	Cold Spring Granite Co. Replaced 14 granite panels because of matching concerns.
June 1999	Ordered 2500 hat and button pins and 2000 medallions for sale
January 9 1999	Final 1656 pavers sold
November 20 1998	First time moved the Eagle from existing Memorial, later moved to entrance of Memorial
October 10 1998	Pool tournament fund raiser at Char's Palace.
October 8 1998	Bus trip for members to inspect memorials in our area.
September 18 1998	Poured walk for first 1440 pavers
August 1998	Set up booth at Olmsted County fair.
July 4 1998	George Pougiales returned $1,000.00 he won in drawing from all who purchased a paver
June 28 1998	Fund raising golf tournament ran.
June 1998	Set up find raising booth at Rochester Fest.
May 29 1998	Fund raising golf tournament held at Soldiers Field golf course.
May 25 1998	First Memorial Day ceremony held at Memorial
May 22 1998	Set up crosses at Memorial to observe Memorial Day.
May 16 1998	Set up paver booth at Apache Mall
May 1998	Concrete work started on Memorial.
April 1998	Pavers displayed in numerous locations for sale.
March 7 1998	Pool tournament held at Char's Palace.
January 3 1998	Lorence Schroeder won $1,000.00 in drawing.
November 1997	Started major campaign to sell pavers.
November 27 1997	VFW Post 1215 bar held another fund raising walk.
October 1997	Kathy's Pub held a fundraising walk.
October 19 1997	Held dinner and auction for fund raiser
September 10 1997	Had booth at Golden Generation show.
August 1997	Set up booth at County Fair to sell pavers
June 13 1997	Held groundbreaking ceremony at Memorial
May 25 1997	Special Veterans Program with our Model there.
May 17 1997	Held fund raising golf tournament.
April 13 1997	VFW Post 1215 had a find-raising walk.
April 1997	Trustees authorized paver sales at $350.00 each.
March 1 1997	Fundraiser held at RochCheers bar.
February 1997	Stillman recruited Bob DeWitz to oversee the construction,
November 1996	Set up 501c(3) Corporation.
November 1996	Set up a traveling Memorial display.
November 1996	Sent letters to clubs and organizations for donations.
November 1996	Formed many meetings with service clubs and organizations.
October 1 1996	Presented idea for $100.00 bricks for walkway.
September 19 1996	Announced plans for building the memorial with champagne news conference
August 23 1996	Met with Architects regarding plans to build. Stillman turned down their proposal of 8% fee.
July 31 1996	Plans for proceeding with the Memorial set.
July 15 1996	Approved by-laws for Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial Inc.
July 8 1996	Mayo Foundation donated $60,000.00 to Memorial.
June 24 1996	Presented proposal to Mayo Foundation for a monetary grant.
May 8 1996	Park Dept approved plans for Memorial.
March 1996	Selected "Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial Inc." as our name.
February 8 1996	Met with Rochester Park Dept to review concept plans
October 26 1995	Orientation meeting for committee held.
October 17 1995	Committee meeting to decide if we build a museum or a memorial or both.
October 2 1995	Committee formed for Memorial approved by City Council
June 26 1995	Wayne Stillman contacted Wayne Arnold with a vision for a Memorial and solicited his help. Arnold agreed and then Harry Kerr, Dick Brehmer, Floyd Riester were contacted and plans were started.
June 25 1995	Dave Senjem and Wayne Stillman discussed idea for a memorial