Clackamas, OR -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/31/2014 -- Weather will factor into the raising of the 33-foot Obelisk at Oregon's WWII Memorial

Just two months after groundbreaking at the Oregon WWII Memorial, the construction team is preparing to raise a 33-foot granite obelisk at the state capitol. It will be a "game day decision" on Wednesday, April 2, as the timing of the event is subject to wind and rain conditions.

Under the leadership of Lou Jaffe, the Oregon WWII Memorial Foundation has pulled together a committed board of directors. For the physical memorial, Jaffe is working closely with Tim Bronleewe of Oregon Memorials, the company building the granite components of the site, including the walls, pavers and the 5-sided obelisk.

Bob Plame, board member of the Memorial Foundation, is a retired real estate developer and retired US Marine Corps veteran who served in the Vietnam War. Plame is the Project manager and is acting as general contractor for the construction team. He is also largely responsible for the design of the memorial.

"The design has evolved over the last couple of years," said Plame, "and it could never have come together without people like Tim (Oregon Memorials) and others who brought their insight and expertise to the project."

Plame explains that because the granite obelisk weighs roughly 20 tons, the setting of the large monument will take extreme skill. "We will only get one shot at doing it correctly," he said," so the weather will have to cooperate in order for things go smoothly."

THE MEMORIAL

The public dedication for the Oregon WWII Memorial is scheduled for June 6, 2014, and the event is expected to draw crowds from all across the state.

Located in Willson Park at the corner of Cottage and Court streets, the Oregon WWII Memorial will cover a 75 by 75 foot area. At its center will be a 33-foot-high obelisk, referring to Oregon being the 33rd state in the union. Along the corner of a low wall on the memorial are the engraved names of the 3,771 fallen Oregon service members. Two black granite benches will invite visitors to sit and reflect on the shared sacrifice during wartime.

One of the most unique features of the design is a world map engraved on the memorial's footprint. Each stone paver represents a piece of the map, adding to the complexity of the construction. "It's like a giant jigsaw puzzle, and not one of the pavers can be out of place," said Plame.

Adding to the experience, there are QR codes throughout the Memorial linking to online material. Using mobile phones, visitors can scan the QR codes to access facts about individuals, battles and key events of WWI.

OREGON'S WWII VETERANS

- Of the 152,000 Oregonians who served in WWII, an estimated 20,000 are still alive today.
- A recorded 3,771 Oregonians gave their lives in service during WWII.
- America loses approximately 600 American WWII veterans every day, and with most of those veterans now in their 90's, the rate of loss increases daily. http://www.nationalww2museum.org/honor/wwii-veterans-statistics.html

Lou Jaffe, U.S. Army Vietnam veteran, president of the Oregon WWII Memorial Foundation took on the leadership role in 2011 and has been the driving force behind the fundraising effort. Just two months away from the opening of the Memorial, the foundation has nearly reached its $1.2M goal.

His passion for the effort has helped raise public awareness and financial support for the memorial.

"Oregon is one of only six states that does not have a WWII Memorial, and that needed to change," said Jaffe. "Oregonians deserve this memorial to honor the veterans and their families who worked and served in World War II."

To make a contribution to the WWII Memorial Foundation, please go to httpL//www.oregonwwiimemorial.com, or see the Facebook page for fundraising updates and Oregon WWII history. https://www.facebook.com/oregonww2memorial

MEDIA CONTACT: Rachael Mortensen, (503) 550-9463
Construction/info: Bob Plame, (503) 887-6033

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Brigadier General James B. Thayer will awarded the Spirit of 45 Day National Leaders Medal on Thursday at the Oregon Military Museum at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, OR. The event is part of a national tour honoring the men and women of the Greatest Generation and the upcoming 70th anniversary of the end of WWII.

Clackamas, OR -- (ReleaseWire) -- 03/05/2014 -- The Spirit of '45 Express Tour is making its way up the West Coast this week as part of the national tour to honor the men and women of America's Greatest Generation. The Express will make several stops, including a visit to the State Capitol in Salem, before arriving at the Brigadier General James B. Thayer Military Museum in Clackamas on Thursday afternoon.

At the future site of the museum at Camp Withycombe, tour officials will meet with Brigadier General James B. Thayer to present him with the Spirit of '45 Day National Leaders Medal in recognition of his service to his country and community during and after WWII.

Brig. Gen. Thayer's partial list of military honors includes the Silver Star; Bronze Star; Combat Infantry Badge; Oregon National Guard Exceptional Service Medal, and Oregon National Guard Distinguished Service Award.

Thayer's civilian achievements are equally as impressive and numerous. Among the positions has as served are Civilian Aide to the United States Secretary of the Army; Director Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission; and Vice President, Association of the United States Army, Oregon.

Alisha Hamel, founder and executive director of the Historical Outreach Foundation, will join General Thayer at the Museum on Thursday. In partnership with the museum and the WWII Memorial Foundation, Hamel's organization is committed to preserving and sharing the stories of American veterans.

"Oregon had approximately 152,000 who served in WWII," said Hamel. "Over 3,700 service members were killed in action and around 24,000 WWII veterans are still living in Oregon today. We owe Brigadier General Thayer, and the thousands men and women, a tremendous debt of gratitude."

The Historical Outreach Foundation is working closely with the foundation charged with creating the Oregon WWII Memorial in Salem, and will continue to administer the online and education components of the Memorial after the dedication this June.

Hamel believes that it is critical to "ensure that future generations will never forget the sacrifices made by those who served, and those who paid the ultimate price for their service to country."

At the conclusion of the presentation to Gen. Thayer this Thursday, Bugler Auston O'Neill Jr. will play "Taps" for those assembled at the Museum. O'Neill, Jr., whose father was a decorated WWII veteran, performs at the National WWII Memorial each year on Spirit of '45 Day. He is one of the 2,000 buglers participating in a round-the-world wreath laying ceremony scheduled to take place in August 2015 marking the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII.

"We want to encourage families of the 16 million who served in uniform and the millions more who supported them on the Home Front, to take this opportunity to honor these ordinary heroes who did so much for our country and the world," said O'Neill. "Their Spirit of courage, shared sacrifice and service to others must continue to inspire future generations of Americans."

Barbara Jensen is Oregon's Representative for the National Spirit of '45 campaign.

"I am so pleased that Oregon honors the WWII Generation by Keeping the Spirit Alive in our communities so as to inspire our youth," she said.

The 2010 Congress created the Spirit of 45 Day to honor the WWII generation. The day is observed on second Sunday in August, aligning with the anniversary of the end of WWII on August 14, 1945. Oregon passed its own version of Spirit of '45 Day in 2013.

The Spirit of 45 Express tour began last month in Washington, DC, and will travel throughout the country during the next two years to promote events that are being planned to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII in August 2015. For more information contact about the Spirit of '45 Express tour, contact National Coordinator, Warren Hegg at Warren@Spiritof45.org, (408) 857-5252.

About the Historical Outreach Foundation
The Historical Outreach Foundation honors the men and women who have served this state and nation in our armed forces, and provides a comprehensive educational resource for preserving and sharing Oregon's rich military history.

The HOF, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, drives the funding for the new Brigadier General James B. Thayer Oregon Military Museum. Through several education-based initiatives including school presentations, the Oregon Military Museum and the Veterans Database Project, and in partnership with Oregon World War II Memorial, the Historical Outreach Foundation is charged with showcasing Oregon's rich military history and making it accessible to everyone.

To support the Historical Outreach Foundation, please go to www.historicaloutreach.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Nearly 70 years later, a campaign edges closer to properly honoring a decorated World War II war hero.

Clackamas, OR -- (ReleaseWire) -- 02/14/2014 -- Nearly 70 years later, a campaign edges closer to properly honoring a decorated war hero.

Robert D. Maxwell is Oregon's only living WWII recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. He believes there is at least one more Oregonian, Lt. Col Leonard C. DeWitt, who deserves to share that honor. DeWitt served with the famed 41st Infantry "Sunset" Division of the Oregon Army National Guard during World War II.

In a letter dated January 31, 2014, citing Oregon House Joint Memorial 17 and other supporting documents, Maxwell urged Senator Ron Wyden to advance the initiative to upgrade DeWitt's Distinguished Service Cross award to the Medal of Honor.

The letter to Sen. Wyden is one of several communications on behalf of Leonard DeWitt, and is part of a years-long campaign to bring about the upgrade, and recognize DeWitt in accordance with the intention of his commanding general in WWII.

During the 2013 session, the Oregon legislature passed the House Joint Memorial 17 (HJM17) in which the committee concluded that, "not awarding Leonard DeWitt the Medal of Honor for his actions against Japanese forces in New Guinea during World War II was a regrettable oversight."

In 1944, the commanding general of the Sixth Army nominated DeWitt for the Congressional Medal of Honor stating he exhibited "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty." The nomination was downgraded to Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) when it came across General Douglas MacArthur's desk.

In the letter to Sen. Wyden, Maxwell noted that DeWitt's would be "the first Medal of Honor awarded to the 41st Infantry Division." Despite having seen some of the fiercest combat in WWII, the 41st has never received the Medal of Honor.

Nearly 100 years after its formation in Oregon during WWII, the 41st ID is still active today.

Oregon's Hall of Valor honors DeWitt and other veterans

In 2012, DeWitt was inducted into the Hall of Valor at the Oregon Military Museum in Clackamas. The Hall of Valor recognizes Oregonians who have received a Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross equivalent, or the Medal of Honor. The Hall of Valor will display the histories of these veterans at the new Brigadier General James B. Thayer Oregon Military Museum, now under construction in Clackamas at Camp Withycombe.

Alisha Hamel is part of the team heading up the educational and funding components for the new museum. She is the Executive director of the Historical Outreach Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to teaching Oregon's rich military history, and honoring the memories of all American veterans.

Hamel has been an integral part of advancing DeWitt's case to resolve on both a local and national level.

"I feel a personal responsibility to see this through," said Hamel. " I am one of many who has made it their goal to see that Leonard receives the honor he is due; the highest recognition this country can award."

Leonard and Joanne, his wife of 37 years, live in McMinnville, Oregon.

About the Historical Outreach Foundation
The Historical Outreach Foundation honors the men and women who have served this state and nation in our armed forces, and provides a comprehensive educational resource for preserving and sharing Oregon's rich military history.

The HOF, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, drives the funding for the new Brigadier General James B. Thayer Oregon Military Museum. Through several education-based initiatives including school presentations, the Oregon Military Museum and the Veterans Database Project, and in partnership with Oregon's World War II Memorial, the Historical Outreach Foundation is charged with showcasing Oregon's rich military history and making it accessible to everyone.

To support the Historical Outreach Foundation, please go to www.historicaloutreach.com.

Media Contact
Rachael Mortensen
(503) 550-9463
Rachael@historicaloutreach.com
Historical Outreach

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm