THE MAKEUP OF THE TEAM FOR A SUCCESSFUL MISSION. OUR EAGLE HAS LANDED IN CLAYTON, WA.
THE STORY:
Before you is a photo of each person who played a major roll in a fifty mile flight of our Majestic Eagle.
Before you is a photo of each person who played a major roll in a fifty mile flight of our Majestic Eagle.
This is Rowena Valencia-Gica PHD and Timothy J. Lowenberg, Major General, the Adjutant General, Director, WMD
The first photo is of Major General Lowenberg presenting Rowena Gica this well earned Award at the National Guard Awards Ceremony.
Rowena Valencia-Gica, Enviromental Specialist WAARING Page #2
Rowena Valencia-Gica, Enviromental Specialist WAARING Page #4
The Pride of Place is a National News Letter from The National Guard. Rowena's article was included in this edition.
Art Ohler, President of the retired members of the 161st retired members, presenting CDPHS President with the plaque that graced the Clayton terra cotta Eagle during its stay at Geiger Field.
This is our CDPHS portrait of the unheralded members. But lest we forget, this distinguished group banded together and funded our EAGLE PROJECT in an incomparable fashion. We can only say thank you for your generosity and support.
Notice: Our anonymous donor may or may not be included in these CDPHS family photos. Our anonymous donor matched single handedly the total donated by all the members and non members. Contributions are as follows- $1300 for the Bronze Plaque above and an additional $2000 for the restoration of the Eagle once it is mounted on its steel pedestal along Highway 395 at the Clayton Drive In in Clayton, WA. Our sincere thanks to the ANONYMOUS family of AMERICA!
This Web Page is dedicated to the memory of Don Lindh and his extensive family, the Scrivens, Nords and Lindhs. Don is one of the Veterans mentioned above. May Don rest In peace.
When Knight Construction brought the Eagle crate and pedestal to Clayton, the task of removing him fell on the shoulders of the CDPHS. The team includes Warren Nord, Lorraine Nord, Bob Clouse, Mary Clouse, (not pictured) Bill Sebright, Sue Rehms, Pete Coffin and Jeff Lilly. The Teamwork was perfect and you see the end results. Tired but gratified. Next on the agenda is restoration and landscaping.
The CDPHS Executive Board from L – R- Bill Sebright, President, Sharon (Boyd) Clark, Historian & Editor of Print Publications, Rob Hggins, Vice President, Grace (Karus) Hubal, Secretary, & Mark Wagner, Treasurer. Standing Guard the Nations National Emblem, Clayton, Washington's bald eagle.
Jim Knight's son, David.
Jim Knight's son, Ken.
Mr. Dennis Whisman far left, shows the Knight Stand to Bill Sebright and Peter Coffin. Dennis is plant manager. This is where the talking stops & things happen.
Knight Construction transported the pedestal to Spokane’s east side. I 90 Express run by Mr. Percy Endicote applied the satin coal black powder coating turning the stand to Corning ware type spotless finish. They ran it through the process until it met their stringent specifications. Percy personally took this under his wing because he was aware of the importance of the WA. Nat. Guard Emblem. Thank you I 90. Beautiful job.
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The Gica Family. Christmas 2009
Rowena Valencia-Gica, Enviromental Specialist WAARING. Page #1
This is Randy & Taffy (Calicoat) Long. They in essence are CDPHS land lords. We have the run of the Clayton Drive In, no charge. We conduct our monthly meetings here, no charge. All parties agree to place the CDPHS Eagle on the Longs’ property, no charge. Randy Long Excavating prepares the site, brings in a couple hundred yards of top soil & gravel to prepare the site for total Landscaping, no charge, builds 2 steel & granite rock Pedestals for our brass & bronze plaques, furnishes shrubbery and rock seating area, all to beautify the CDPHS Eagle Visitors Center , no charge. And Randy & Taffy are quite reluctant to receive the deserved accolades. But this is an opportunity to say in writing. Thank you both for being our Friends and supporters, Randy & Taffy Long and the CLAYTON DRIVE IN.
Entering the picture on about December 21, 2009, tipping his hat as we looked each other in the eye, Gentleman Jim Knight. We agreed on a plan of attack and he carried it out. Plain & Simple! It was then that Jim asked a question, “What’s the Deadline.” I said, “December 31st.” His only response was, “Oh. I'll put that in my long range plan and walked away.” Ten days later, the Eagle was under Knight Construction's care in Deer Park, WA, eight miles from Clayton, WA. The man in the fatigues is Sergeant Lonnie Beatty, our sole contact with the Active National Guard. He was a perfect liaison. Later and finally another very important segment of the team on the left, Shane Thompson with concrete cutters Pro Cut.
CDPHS Webmaster Bob Clouse, Knight Construction Head Jim Knight, and Jessica Simon Project Manager for Knight Construction, 3 big players in getting the Eagle on its way to Clayton.
Another Class picture of a group described by a member of our Society but also a member of the executive board of another local Historical Society. In her words, “The CDPHS is the best Historical Society that I have ever known.” This I might add made us very proud!
This is Sgt. Lonnie Beatty, stationed at Geiger Field, Spokane, WA. SGT Beatty is the only member of the National Guard that we have met. But he did a masterful job of telling the story of the plight of the Eagle and why the CDPHS are the proud recipients of the beloved Eagle. In the words of Lonnie Beatty, "The National Guard had mixed emotions. We were aware the Eagle had to be moved. For some time we have strived to find a new home for it. Try as we might, we failed. Our Active and especially retired personnel were devastated. We wanted to incorporate it at our new Eastern Washington Military Cemetery now under construction at Medical Lake, WA, only a few short miles from Geiger field but this was an unattainable goal as the cost was prohibitive. When the chips were down we had only two choices issued by our Commanding Officer, find a new home or destroy our National Emblem. So our boys were deeply disappointed on one hand, but on the other hand they are greatly relieved that CDPHS will be taking it home to Clayton Wa.and preserving it for all to see and admire forever." It was then that CDHPS made a solemn promise. Come the summer of 2010 the Eagle will be mounted and restored at Clayton, WA, and be dedicated to our fighting forces of the United States of America. Just as our bronze plaque states in bold letters, We thank our Military daily for our freedom and for them.
Two major projects remain, restoration being the most critical. Two terra cotta restoration pros stepped forward & volunteered their services, Tom Taylor a local Clayton man and Lyle Thompson from Mead WA. Here they are, possibly wondering how they got themselves involved in this mess. The other much easier task is to mount the eagle on the pedestal.
The Mighty Eagle and her Entourage. L - R Bob Clouse, Dick Hazelmyer, Florene Moore, Warren Nord, Lorraine Nord, Mary Clouse, Sue Rehms, Betty Burdette, Margie Burdega, Rob Higgins, Kay Parkin, Mark Wagner, Marilyn Reilly, Karen Meyer, Cliff Meyer, De Palen, Duane Costa, Penny HuttEn & Bob Gibson. Those attending our meeting but excluded from this long awaited event, Grace Hubal, Art Stelting, Ann Stelting, Bill Sebright, Sharon Clark, Don Ball, Lorraine Ball and our illustrious photographer Peter Coffin for a grand total of 27 in attendance.
Jim Knight's son, Doug.
Kim Lucas, Jim Knight’s Secretary and the go between of CDPHS & Jim Knight. She kept everything on track especially in the early days when we needed guidance. It’s unlikely either she or Jessica realize how much we depended on them.
In the nearly final stages Dawson Concrete of Valley, WA not to be over shadowed came riding in on this beautiful white steed, volunteering to do their part in an unheralded Stevens and Spokane County community project. The Stage is set. The cast is accounted for and Act Three is soon to begin.
Randy Long of Long Excavating and Rick Lindberg of Wilbert Vault Company are working out a plan of attack. The circles are where shrubs are to be planted. The rectangles are where manufactured rock seating will be. Rick stands about where the flag pole will be. When the plaques are encased in blocks they will be attached to the black metal stands. All this after the Eagle is resting on his final perch keeping watch over his domain forever more.
June 24 was Prime Time starring Beauty Parlor Pete and Beauty Salon Sebright. They put on the primer coat on the Eagle top to bottom. No runs, no drips, no errors. The Primer is latex acrylic. The next coat will be the actual dark chocolate brown and white, yellow. When dry a final coat of Urethane with paint hardener for long endurance glossy finish. Webmaster, Bob Clouse, swears to follow his Wife Mary's advice. “WHAT EVER YOU DO, DON’T GET ANOTHER ONE!”
The artistic cosmetic team from, L - R. Judy and Jeff Lilly, Anni and Bill Sebright. ( All 4 pitched in to make it happen, Mary Clouse and her husband Bob (taking the picture), cheer leaders, Rainy Nord (quality control), Her husband Warren, out of control, Pete Coffin spear headed the entire Paint project, Sharon Clark joined Mary Ann(not pictured) as Cheer leader. The job of the CDPHS is now history. Knight Construction & Long Excavating will handle the rest of the job.
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