Stories

Fort Wayne, April 2021

The Veterans National Memorial Shrine and Museum has received
notification of a donation in the amount of $150,000 from the
Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American
Revolution. The donation will be used to construct a new Chapel at
2122 O’Day Road in Fort Wayne.

The Chapel will be known as the Sterling Chapel and is made possible by a
generous bequest from DAR member Jeanette Thompson Sterling.

In Canton, Ohio a 7-foot-tall monument stands in a courtyard outside of the Aultman School of Nursing. It’s topped by a life-size bronze statue of a young woman dressed in an Army uniform. Its base is inscribed with the names of 110 Stark County servicemen, and one woman, who died during the Vietnam War.

Sharon Lane, a first lieutenant, was killed June 8, 1969 when a rocket hit the 312th Evacuation Hospital’s Vietnamese ward in Chu Lai. She was 25.

Lane, a U.S. Army nurse, was the only American servicewoman killed by direct enemy fire during the Vietnam War.

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.

Here are updated  photos of parking lot work, the new signage out front.
New photos show the panel's going up and the names of the brave and honorable are appearing.

With some great weather recently, crews have been able to complete various stages of the site's development. There's a lot of excitement as we continue to make the Shrine Shine.

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.