It is with great pleasure that I announce we have officially organized the "VMAQ Monument Foundation", a non-profit 501(c)(3)(pending), whose primary purpose is to erect a memorial/monument in honor of incredible 65+ year history. Our goal is to display this in a national-level museum (yet to be determined),such as the Smithsonian & Marine Corps museums, etc. are our primary hopes.
1) The granite/marble monument base will memorialize lost Marines from VMC/VMCJ/VMAQ. Details are in work by our foundation historian volunteer, LtCol (ret) Todd "Friday" Caruso. He will soon be reaching out to many of you for historic support.
2) The bronze statues will display a modern-day scene of an EA-6B Plane Mechanic and an EA-6B Pilot and ECMO as they prepare to launch their final EA-6B flight. Fully dressed in flight-line attire, 'heroic' size, 1 1/2 times scale at 9' tall each.
3) The three bronze statues will be sculpted by world-renown artist Sandra Van Zandt. She has recently sculpted the Texas War Memorial's "Price of Liberty" http://texaswarmemorial.com/ and most famously she sculpted the "Spirit of Naval Aviation" located in the National Museum of Naval Aviation http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=spirit_naval_aviation
4) Included in the display on the etched base we will display the aircraft, VMAQ and legacy squadrons history, and a list of all significant operations & awards for the entire community.
5) It is our intention to co-locate the display with an EA-6B aircraft. This will be challenging but is totally possible. It may also take 2-5 years to bring the aircraft and monument together, depending on what facility agrees to display our items. Col (ret) Marlin Benton will be leading the location and placement effort as our Director of Museum Affairs and Chief Curator.
6) As you might guess, this is NO EASY TASK. We will need every single person involved in our community to pitch in. We will need families, friends, coworkers, and neighbors to donate. We will need corporations and philanthropists to donate. We have a ton of money to raise, and need it fast! This endeavor is going to require a lot of money, and will never come to fruition if you sit on the sidelines and do nothing. WE ALL MUST CONTRIBUTE TO MAKE THIS A REALITY. Maj(IRR) Harry Horning II is our Treasurer and will handle donation questions/concerns. [email protected] Donation and store purchases can also be made on our website: https://vmaqmonument.org Paypal/CC and checks accepted.
7) Our board members and volunteers will be spending countless hours executing this mission over the next few years. If you want to help - open up your wallet. If you want to volunteer - send us a note at [email protected]. If you want to support this cause - open up your wallet. If you are proud of your VMAQ heritage and legacy - OPEN UP YOUR WALLET. If you are part of an organization that supports non-profits and wants to help, please contact our Director of Corporate Partnerships and Grants - LtCol (ret) Marty Moore [email protected]
Lastly, this morning I handed the sculptor director Mr. Doug Van Zandt my flight gear. He is taking it to Owasso, OK to Sandra's art studio where she will soon begin sculpting the first maquette 20" miniature to be used to create board-room quality collector editions, to be offered to Gold Donors at $15,000+ ea. We all must participate to set our legacy in bronze and stone. Let's go out with a bang and show the world just how incredible our community is and leave an awesome piece of art for future generations to view in a BIG way. Our contribution to our nation and the world is nothing small and we shall be remembered!!!
Together we "Can Do Easy". Every Marine a Donor. Every Marine a Fundraiser!
Semper Fidelis,
Wayne "Duck" Qualkinbush
CEO & President
VMAQ Monument Foundation
* Visit our website and SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER https://vmaqmonument.org
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*** Plank Owner Black Tees are on sell until July 9th, LIMITED EDITION, ONE RUN ONLY! Purchase them and other VMAQ related goodies on our websites "Dirty Shame" Store
****Foundation, Board & Legal matters please contact our Secretary, Jamie Stanley [email protected]
