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Devin Meriam's
rendering portrays the chapter's planned appearance for the F-86H Sabre Jet at
the west end of Holiday Park on Sandy Nininger Drive. Beyond the jet and
pedestal, Gold Coast Chapter 351 wants to erect a "ring of honor" on a circular
pad underneath the jet. Memorial engraved bricks will then be sold from the pad
and wall to primarily raise scholarship funds for our AFJrROTC and CAP cadets
as well as to provide maintenance monies for the jet. The chapter is in the
talking stages now with the City of Ft. Lauderdale and its consultants.
After many, many months of delays and lack of forward progress, we now can see some solid evidence by the City of Ft. Lauderdale with this project. The pedestal is almost fully repaired after Hurricane Wilma in October, 2005 knocked the jet down, doing extensive damage to both the pedestal and the jet. What primarily have been added are three large pilings on three sides of the pedestal which will anchor the guy wire tie down hooks. These buried pilings are every bit of 5 feet square and approach a full 6 feet in height. The jet will either be securely tied with the guy wires permanently attached or secured at the time of an approaching severe storm. A decision is expected soon as to which company will be repairing the jet. It is hoped that the repair work will be completed by year end. If so, we would hope to effect a grand re-dedication of the memorial early in 2009.
Our AFA chapter still intends to place memorial bricks in a circular pad under the jet as well as incorporate a low "wall of honor" around the circle. At this point, it is most important that your chapter's leadership hear from any and all who might have connections with firms that could donate the necessary sand, bricks, concrete and labor for this undertaking. It is not anticipated that the City will subsidize any part of this chapter intention. If you can help, please step forward and contact Ran Meriam at 954-575-1069 or warhawk10@bellsouth.net.
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