Stories

It wasn’t the typical ribbon cutting ceremony.

Instead of standing in front of some building, Heyward Matthews, a professor of oceanography at St. Petersburg College, wielded the oversized scissors in the water and cut a ribbon strung between two boats.

That’s because Matthews was dedicating the opening of the nation’s first underwater dive memorial honoring veterans, located 40 feet below the surface 10 miles off the coast of Dunedin Beach, Florida. Matthews has been pushing the idea for the “Circle of Heroes" for almost 10 years.

Alan Manx from Regal Beloit Corp. accepts our Spirit of Excellence Award for the company's "Day of Caring" work that was done by 30 Regal Beloit employees. We are so grateful for their generous donation.

The Marine Corps League "Pride & Purpose" Detachment 1435 shared their support with a $4,137 check
after their successful golf outing in early September.

Semper Fi!

These friends of the shrine have consistently been supportive of our mission as a place of
thoughtful retrospection and honor and with generosity toward the installation of the Vietnam Wall.
 

In school, Robert was interested in history of America and wars throughout world history. He found a fascination in the history of World War II and started collecting books to learn more. This would peak his interest to join the military.

We Are Not Alone.

Hello my Name is Tim Schild Formerly SFC Schild of the US ARMY where I served six years on active duty and 11 in the Reserves and National Guard. I currently work as a Peer Support Specialist for the VA.

Carpenters Local 232 donated materials for a Cupola to house the new speakers at the Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum located at 2122 O’Day Rd. Fort Wayne, IN.

IKORCC Representative Tom Case, and Local 232 Veterans Ron Clements, Dave Straub, and John Evans volunteered to honor our veterans and lend a helping hand.

Darryl Esterline with Local 20 SMART Sheet Metal Workers, also volunteered to supply metal flashing and help with installation.

A newly organized display case is helping us honor our founders, Eric and Cleo Scott.

One of the big items is the 6th Engineers Guidon in the center of the case. It has an image of the castle in the upper left corner. The outside edge is red with red lettering inside the white center rectangle area. 1917 is placed in the lower right as the year of formation for the 6th Engineers.

These words were spoken by our founder, Eric Scott and echoed by his wife, Cleo at the establishment of what has become the Veterans National Memorial Shrine & Museum in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Eric Scott was only 18 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was mustered in and spent six weeks in training. His assignment was to the Third Infantry Division, Sixth Combat Engineers in France.