Memorial Bench Update

Posted onAuthorKen Hackman

by Ken Hackman

Thank you; thank you to everyone who has already donated to our Memorial Bench project.  We are definitely going to have a bench at the Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH.  Since AAVS and Combat Camera people have never been shy or reticent about our professionalism in documenting the day-to-day Air Force events and preserving them for history we definitely wanted to have a first-class bench to go with our first-class reputation and image.

Here is an update on what has been done and what we would like to do:

Our granite carver Steve, helped us select the best museum approved granite for our design.  The granite will be arriving in Elberton, GA around May 2 and then be shipped to Piqua, OH, arriving around June 2, for finishing.

  • We are working on a preliminary design for bench which would include colored shields of all the AAVS squadrons and the four Combat Camera Squadrons plus the three command shields; APCS, AAVS, ACCS.  In addition our thought is to etch the long used image of three silhouetted figures featuring a still photographer, a videographer and a third figure representing the many support people who made it possible to document the Air Force story.
  • We are adopting the museum option of having a shade tree planted and located next to the bench.  The tree would have a plaque with words about us and we are thinking of including the Combat Camera Eagle patch etched on the bronze plaque.
  • Jim Shaw our feet-on-the-ground at Dayton has recommended a location for the bench that would give maximum visibility to all the museum visitors.
  • We are hoping to have the bench completed in time to have a dedication ceremony prior to our reunion in Ontario.
  • Since we are the visual chroniclers, granted a little older and retired, of history, we would like to do a video documentation of our bench project and dedication ceremony. Lance Cheung has volunteered to edit this project.

Thanks again for everyone’s participation in this project.  To anyone who has not participated we are still accepting donations.  Please check our website for details.