Sep/Oct 2005 - Korean War Veterans Association
Sep/Oct 2005 - Korean War Veterans Association
Sep/Oct 2005 - Korean War Veterans Association
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Progress Report—<strong>Sep</strong>tember <strong>2005</strong><br />
KOREAN WAR VETERANS NATIONAL MUSEUM AND LIBRARY<br />
Rantoul, IL<br />
Planned Facility<br />
1. At the Annual Board of Directors meeting on August 27, <strong>2005</strong>,<br />
KWVNM&L Executive Director Larry Sassorossi reported on<br />
the time-line, as proposed by the architect, for the construction<br />
of Building 1 (10,000 Square Feet) the first of a three (3) building<br />
complex totaling 50,000 square feet, which was approved<br />
by the KWVNM&L Board of Directors.<br />
a. <strong>Sep</strong>tember 13, ‘05 Mail out Bids for Phase I<br />
b. <strong>Oct</strong>ober 13 Opening of Bids for Phase I, Building. 1<br />
c. <strong>Oct</strong>ober 22 Board of Directors to take action on Bids<br />
d. November 23 Construction to begin on Building 1<br />
e. February 15, ‘06 Award Bids for Phase II, Building 2<br />
f. March 15 Construction to begin for Building 2<br />
g. May 15 Award bids for (final) Phase III, Building 3<br />
h. June 15 Construction to begin on Building 3<br />
i. August 30 Anticipated COMPLETION of Building I<br />
j. <strong>Sep</strong>t./<strong>Oct</strong>. 2006 Grand Opening ceremonies for Building 1<br />
2. Phase II, Building 2 (20,000 square feet) is devoted to the history<br />
of Korea “before, during and after” the <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong>.<br />
Funding is being sought through and from the <strong>Korean</strong><br />
Community. Considerable progress has been made.<br />
Cooperation has been received by visits with four <strong>Korean</strong><br />
Consul Generals (Chicago, Houston, Los Angles, and Boston),<br />
support groups in Chicago and Houston, and contact with<br />
Retired <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> Generals and Admirals (Members of our<br />
Advisory Board) in Korea. Sufficient progress has been made<br />
that anticipated construction may begin on this Phase in 2006.<br />
3. Phase III, Building 3 (20,000 square feet) will display a “<strong>War</strong><br />
Machine Gallery,” consisting of armaments used in the <strong>Korean</strong><br />
<strong>War</strong>. Anticipated funding will be sought from major United<br />
States corporations<br />
4. A Resolution to acknowledge the Purpose, Mission, and<br />
Objectives of the KWVNM&L by U.S. Congress is being<br />
sought, and major headway has been made. Contacts and cooperation<br />
to sponsor such a resolution in the House of<br />
Representatives has been made and received from<br />
Congressmen serving on the <strong>Veterans</strong> Affairs and the Armed<br />
Services Committees, plus others.<br />
5. Assumed control of the KOREAN WAR CHILDREN’S<br />
EXHIBIT that strives to keep alive in the public’s consciousness<br />
the story of how American GIs aided orphaned children<br />
during and following the <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong>; and documents the<br />
efforts of American GI’s in saving the lives of thousands of<br />
<strong>Korean</strong> orphans.<br />
Thus the progress made by the Museum and Library Board of<br />
Directors this year has been tremendous, and points the way for<br />
a successful <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> <strong>Veterans</strong> National Museum and Library<br />
to finally be established with a major national building fund-raising<br />
program now in work, and future plans for construction<br />
placed in action.<br />
Respectfully submitted,<br />
William Mac Swain<br />
KWVA Liaison<br />
“The <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> <strong>Veterans</strong> <strong>Association</strong>, Inc. Board of Directors has approved support for the <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> <strong>Veterans</strong> National Museum<br />
and Library and requests that all <strong>Korean</strong> <strong>War</strong> <strong>Veterans</strong> support the fund raising being accomplished for construction of the Facilities<br />
to house the Museum and Library in Rantoul, IL.”<br />
9<br />
The Graybeards <strong>Sep</strong>tember - <strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2005</strong>