Grumman Memorial Park
Newsletter
July 1999
This is the first "newsletter" about the Grumman Memorial Park, it is brief as the board is very busy with our tentative July 20th site plan approval from the Town of Riverhead. Please visit the website as we have added many photos and a wealth of information on many Grumman products.
Don't forget that July 20, 1999 is the 30th anniversary of the first Lunar landing, made possible by the team work and devotion of thousands of Grummanites, the support of their families and all of the subcontractors involved. Incidentally, on this same significant date, after almost two years of labor, the town is going to give our group the green light to move forward. Look for a future E-mail with a date for our upcoming ground breaking ceremony. Should be sometime in early August.
Look for more pages on the website as we continue to add products and photos. Also in upcoming months, we will be posting details on the Walk of Honor brick layout and the Old Friends Directory, where you will be able to find information to get in touch with old friends from Grumman.
Any and all Grummanites are invited to Town Board meeting at 7PM on July 20 at St. Johns the Baptist Church, Wading River, NY. (Exit 69 North from Long Island Expressway.) A significant date and event to celebrate.
Chris Dittmeier
Grumman Memorial Park web designer
Formerly F-14 Engineering 1982-1997
June 9, 1999
Grumman Memorial Park News
The Grumman Memorial Park Directors have been making major progress. Unveiling plans for the monument are not too far off with a target month of October coinciding with the weekend of the Country Fair in Riverhead.
Other items: The decision has been made to go with a "T" shaped stand with three pylons in the ground. The aircraft will be sitting on its own landing gear. This is instead of the previously planned "stick." A drawing of the stand will be posted at a future date. This design will not necessitate any modifications to the aircraft, making our job easier and more cost effective while maintaining the look of a plane on active duty in the fleet, rather than a plane on a stick.
Our finances are looking good. As of the last meeting of the directors, the bank balance was well over $100,000. Thanks to all of you who are helping make this happen!
We have been in the press a lot lately. You will be able to catch articles on the park in upcoming issues of the Naval Publication "Tailhook", as well as in the local paper "Suffolk Life." As these articles run, we will post them, along with future updates on the site.
THE GRUMMAN MEMORIAL PARK NEEDS YOUR HELP!
If you would like to volunteer to help us prepare the aircraft, raise money, promote the project or other areas you feel you could be of expertise, E-mail us and we will mail you brochures or find an area that best suits you. Also if you have any artifacts or conversation pieces that you would like to donate for display in our visitors center in your name or a loved one, pictures, manuals, memorabilia, feel free to E-mail us as well. Our e-mail address is gmpark@optonline.net. Military personnel, where might we be able to obtain inert ordinance for the aircraft. Please E-mail us, all leads or ideas are greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Steve Kirschenbaum, Chair
With assistance of Rob Shannon