PUBLIC GRAND OPENING and CAREER SUMMIT FOR VETERANS – Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Ribbon cutting with Mayor Ron Corbett and U.S. Army General Tommy Franks (Retired) at 1:30 pm
Mays Island, Veterans Memorial Building, 50 2nd Avenue Bridge
“Our finest tribute to their valor will be the quality of our own lives,” said Dr. McCabe, then President of Coe College, at the dedication in 1960 of a replica of the “Flag Raising on Iwo Jima”bronze memorial mounted at the entrance to the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Cedar Rapids on Mays Island. Now it is time to re-dedicate the Veterans Memorial Building after its full restoration from the flood of 2008. The official re-opening, ribbon cutting, and inaugural event will be held on April 15, 2014. The Veterans Memorial Building will host the second annual “HOOAH! Career Summit for Service Members and Veterans.”
This event brings together industry, education, and military resources under one roof. This all day event was created to assist veterans and service members in translating and converting hard won military training and experience into a rewarding civilian career. Sponsored by William Penn University, the April 15th represented: Rockwell Collins, Alliant Energy, Principal Financial Group, Home Depot, Transamerica, and UnityPoint.
Due to the generosity of William Penn University, keynoting the event and assisting with the ribbon cutting, alongside Mayor Ron Corbett, will be General Tommy Franks (retired). The public ribbon cutting will be held at 1:30 p.m. on April 15th “We owe you,” Franks says. “We owe them: the best training; the best benefits; the best equipment; the best love of service and self—and the best security this country can provide. And it doesn’t come without a cost. We’re here to bear that cost.”
Echoing this sentiment is Veteran Memorial Commission Executive Director, Mike Jager. “It’s been a long trip,” says Jager. “With us being at the epicenter of the flood in June of 2008, it took us over a year to get temporary electricity, a full three and a half years for the federal government (FEMA) to release the project and allow us to proceed with construction (late November 2011). Then another two full years-plus with local contractors performing the actual work, I would not want to have to relive it all over again, but I think it’s worth the outcome. I know it is from the Veterans I have spoken with who are both pleased and proud to have this place in full service again.”
The Career Summit on April 15th marks the final and full completion milestone and re-launching of the facility. To register for the Veterans and Service Member Career Summit visit this link: http://careersummitcr.eventbrite.com, or contact Aubrey Leisinger at William Penn University.
For more information about The Veterans Memorial Commission:
Contact: Teri Van Dorston, Assistant Director, 319-286-5050, T.VanDorston@cedar-rapids.org. – http://www.cedar-rapids.org/government/departments/veterans-memorial/pages/default.aspx.
The Veterans Memorial Commission is responsible for the management, development, operations and maintenance of the Veterans Memorial Building, Veterans Memorial Stadium (home to the Cedar Rapids Kernels) and the All Veterans Memorial Park.
For more information about William Penn University:
Contact: Aubrey Leisinger, Senior Director of Corporate Relations, 515-422-6173, aubrey.leisinger@cwa.wmpenn.edu. William Penn University, 1275 NW 128th Street, Clive, IA 50325, http://www.mywpu.com
For more information about Midwest Military Outreach:
Contact: John Mikelson, 319-321-1387, midwestmilitaryoutreach@gmail.com. www.midwestmilitaryoutreach.org. Midwest Military Outreach mission is to empower and retain the talent of our Service Members, Veterans and their families as they transition to productive civilian life.