Virginia War Memorial Expanding Again

The Times Dispatch has an article this morning on plans to expand the Virginia War Memorial.

Excerpts:

The Virginia War Memorial is planning an estimated $17 million expansion to honor Virginia’s service members who have died in the global war on terrorism.
Plans for the new wing also call for building a 350-seat auditorium, a roughly 200-space parking deck, a new exhibit gallery and a classroom for long-distance learning.

Though the state-funded expansion’s details are not fully determined, officials hope to break ground on the project by the end of summer and complete it in 2015, said Jon Hatfield, the memorial’s executive director.

“Day of Infamy”, Also Don’t Forget the Christmas Parade On Broad Street

Tomorrow the Virginia War Memorial will hold a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony.

From the Times Dispatch:

The event from 11 a.m. until noon Saturday will honor Virginians and all U.S. military who were killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941.
The ceremony is sponsored by the Richmond Council of the Navy League of the United States. The Richmond chapter’s president, Milton Owen, will speak.
The program will include laying of memorial wreaths and special tributes to Pearl Harbor survivors who’ve been invited to attend.

From Wikipedia:

The attack on Pearl Harbor[nb 4] was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941 (December 8 in Japan). The attack led to the United States’ entry into World War II.

The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. There were simultaneous Japanese attacks on the U.S.-held Philippines and on the British Empire in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

There were numerous historical precedents for unannounced military action by Japan. However, the lack of any formal warning, particularly while negotiations were still apparently ongoing, led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proclaim December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy”.

Also, don’t forget the Christmas Parade On Broad Street tomorrow.

Missing Person Sought

From RPD press release:

Nov. 26, 2013

Missing Person Sought

The Richmond Police Department needs the public’s help to locate a man with a medical condition who has gone missing.

Samuel P. Hoyt, 46, was last seen Friday morning, Nov. 22, at the Virginia War Memorial, 621 S. Belvidere St. He left all of his personal property at the memorial and has not been seen or heard from by family members since that time.

Anyone who has any information about Hoyt’s whereabouts is asked to call Detective Rashaan Wigfall at 646-6769 or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000. Citizens may also text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word “ITip” followed by your tip. Both Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous.

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Another Riverfront Plan? This Wednesday At The Va. War Memorial…

From Church Hill People’s News:

The Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (VA ASLA) will hold a public input meeting for the James River Corridor Viewshed study within the City of Richmond.

The viewshed study is being conducted by the VA ASLA in association with the national organization of the American Society of Landscape Architects as a community service project which each state chapter is conducting or has conducted within the year 2013.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday November 20, 2013 at the Virginia War Memorial Building at 621 S. Belvidere Street, Richmond 23220. The meeting will be between 6-8PM in the Freedom Hall room.

Anyone with an interest in James River Corridor is welcome to participate.

Contact VA ASLA at (804) 523-2901 or marykidd@vaasla.org with any any questions.

Silent Memorial Day Run On Monday

I did not see this listed with the Virginia War Memorial activities, but the Times Dispatch has a story about a ‘silent’ Memorial Day run to honor fallen soldiers.

Stephen Adt, a VCU police officer,

organized an informal silent run for noon on Monday, Memorial Day, from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center to the Virginia War Memorial on South Belvidere Street to remind the community that the holiday is more than just hot dogs.

Read more by clicking here.

Virginia War Memorial Memorial Day Activities

From the Virginia War Memorial website:

Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony 5/27/2013 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Co-hosted by 11th District, American Legion. Virginia residents will officially commemorate this national holiday to honor and remember our valiant men and women who gave their lives in service to America at this outdoor ceremony. This event is an inspirational tribute dedicated to the proposition that Freedom is Never Free and includes patriotic music, memorial wreath laying and the playing of Taps. Governor Bob McDonnell is the invited speaker. Free, open to the public and ample free parking. Rain or shine.
Virginia War Memorial

Music at the Memorial 5/27/2013 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
The Thomas Jefferson High School Corps of Cadets Alumni Band will offer an informal concert of patriotic music in the Shrine of Memory for visitors. Memorial Day brings hundreds of people to the Memorial, and this group of talented musicians will help us all remember our American patriotism and the costs of freedom. Free.
Virginia War Memorial

Armed Forces Day at Virginia War Memorial This Saturday

This Saturday the Virginia War Memorial will host an Armed Services Day celebration.

Armed Forces Day 5/18/2013 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
On this Armed Forces Day, the Native American community is honored to be a part of a special recognition for America’s best. They will present a veteran’s song and a victory song followed by a meaningful blessing of the Memorial’s hallowed grounds honoring over 11,600 names who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. Remarks will be given by Chief Kenneth Adams, USAF (Ret.) of the Upper Mattiponi Tribe and a member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia War Memorial’s Educational Foundation. Also in attendance will be Native American veterans from recognized tribes in the Commonwealth. The Turtle Clan Drum of the Chickahominy Tribe will offer the veteran and victory songs. Most of the drummers are sons of veterans. Free and open to the public.