thedrifter
09-19-05, 02:02 PM
City marches toward landing military museum
By GARY HERRON/Observer staff reporter
Beaming as though they had just watched another festive parade, a group of military veterans emerged from a meeting in the mayor's office Thursday, hopeful that the City of Vision will eventually become home to a vast collection of military vehicles.
Although unofficial until the city council passes a resolution, which it could do at its Sept. 28 meeting. The resolution would confirm that the city will relinquishing a five-acre site.
Veterans are optimistic that roughly $8 million can be raised to make the New Mexico Museum of Military History a reality.
The 80,000 square-foot museum will be located in the vicinity of the new city hall and All-Purpose Events Center.
"We're at the right time and the right place with the right thing," said veteran Nat Holzer.
There are currently six small military museums in the state and 25 throughout the country dedicated to preserving some aspect of World War II history. The largest is the D-Day Museum in New Orleans; its officials are hot on the track of Holzer's collection.
Holzer, of Santa Fe, is a WWII veteran who wants his collection displayed for all to see in the City of Vision.
"I've been talking to (the museum in New Orleans) for about two years," Holzer said. "They're ready to come up and get my stuff and take it down there, all I have to do is get on the phone. I don't want it to go there, I'd rather keep it in the state of New Mexico."
If approved, the Rio Rancho military museum would be one of the largest such collections housed in the U.S.
"As far as I am concerned, I think it would be a very, very good financial decision," he said. "Eight bucks a throw (for some museum admission prices) they charge for it, it's not free. So I think it would be economic boone to this town. And (if placed) next to the arena, you can hold veterans conventions."
The collection won't cost the city a penny.
"I don't want any money for it; I want to preserve it," Holzer said. "I don't want to sell a truck to a farmer, and he cuts the back off and puts a dump on it. I don't want that to happen. They've all been restored to their original condition.
"By looking at the past you can tell the future, all the clichés," Holzer, now 81, said. "That's why I'm doing it.
"I've got some rare things. I've got an earth-grader, that planes earth, pulled by a World War II tractor that type of equipment built all the air fields in the Pacific," he said. "I think I'm the only one in the country that has anything like that."
During that war, he was in the Navy, "attached to the Marines." He became fascinated with military paraphernalia after being discharged and bought his first Jeep in 1946 for $35.
"There was so much around (after the war) you could walk into any surplus store and buy for 35 cents what today would cost $150," he said. "Even my wife asked, 'What are you collecting that junk for?'"
Some of his vehicles and equipment are traceable to individuals, he said. "I have some very rare vehicles, like a prototype Jeep. It's all in Santa Fe now."
Barbara Hagood, who will work hard searching for grant money to build the museum, said, there's a lot of planning that goes along with it.
"They have a collection that is world class, and Rio Rancho has an opportunity to have a major museum, which they don't have right now," Hagood said. "And what could be better than the timing for the city to be going through all their long-range planning and economic development? It would be an anchor for the state."
Among Holzer's collection of 57 vehicles are German ammunition wagons, Harley Davidson motorcycles with sidecars, a half-track, and a staff car, all WWII vintage. There is also a Marines motorcycle from Vietnam.
His collection also includes weaponry, some of Civil War vintage, and a 30.06 Garand rifle; Japanese flags, German beer steins, Spanish-American War belts.
Other donations are expected to come from members of the New Mexico Military Vehicle Preservation Association Roadrunner Chapter.
"We have agreed to put together a resolution for the Sept. 28 council meeting; obviously it will be subject to council approval," said city administrator Jim Palenick, who, along with assistant legal counsel Margo Steadman, met with the veterans.
"Essentially, it will say something like the city commits to provide up to five acres of land for the sighting of such a museum near a traffic access point within the community, at such point in time as they're capable of identifying at least 75 percent of the necessary capital funding, and that a business plan is in place that shows the long-term means by which they will provide for financing, and probably have perhaps 36 months to get there to do so. Then that will be entirely up to the city council to see if they want to approve that," Palenick said.
Councilor Mike Williams, who has attended planning meetings with the veterans, said he would sponsor the resolution.
"I would like to get that done as soon as possible," Williams said. "I was with them in the meeting prior. I'm definitely behind it, supporting it. They are going to do a letter of interest on the five acres for the Sept. 28 meeting, saying, 'yes, the city is interested in giving them the five acres.' The resolution will show the support; I will sponsor the resolution."
As it stands the majority of the city council is behind this project," Dale Nelson said. Nelson, a disabled veteran who lives in Rio Rancho, helped make the city's Veterans Monument Park a reality and seemingly is ready to help the city secure another way to honor those who have fought for their country.
"There are 250,000 veterans in the state of New Mexico," Nelson added, looking forward to soliciting such donations during the upcoming Veterans Day observance here in November.
Ellie
By GARY HERRON/Observer staff reporter
Beaming as though they had just watched another festive parade, a group of military veterans emerged from a meeting in the mayor's office Thursday, hopeful that the City of Vision will eventually become home to a vast collection of military vehicles.
Although unofficial until the city council passes a resolution, which it could do at its Sept. 28 meeting. The resolution would confirm that the city will relinquishing a five-acre site.
Veterans are optimistic that roughly $8 million can be raised to make the New Mexico Museum of Military History a reality.
The 80,000 square-foot museum will be located in the vicinity of the new city hall and All-Purpose Events Center.
"We're at the right time and the right place with the right thing," said veteran Nat Holzer.
There are currently six small military museums in the state and 25 throughout the country dedicated to preserving some aspect of World War II history. The largest is the D-Day Museum in New Orleans; its officials are hot on the track of Holzer's collection.
Holzer, of Santa Fe, is a WWII veteran who wants his collection displayed for all to see in the City of Vision.
"I've been talking to (the museum in New Orleans) for about two years," Holzer said. "They're ready to come up and get my stuff and take it down there, all I have to do is get on the phone. I don't want it to go there, I'd rather keep it in the state of New Mexico."
If approved, the Rio Rancho military museum would be one of the largest such collections housed in the U.S.
"As far as I am concerned, I think it would be a very, very good financial decision," he said. "Eight bucks a throw (for some museum admission prices) they charge for it, it's not free. So I think it would be economic boone to this town. And (if placed) next to the arena, you can hold veterans conventions."
The collection won't cost the city a penny.
"I don't want any money for it; I want to preserve it," Holzer said. "I don't want to sell a truck to a farmer, and he cuts the back off and puts a dump on it. I don't want that to happen. They've all been restored to their original condition.
"By looking at the past you can tell the future, all the clichés," Holzer, now 81, said. "That's why I'm doing it.
"I've got some rare things. I've got an earth-grader, that planes earth, pulled by a World War II tractor that type of equipment built all the air fields in the Pacific," he said. "I think I'm the only one in the country that has anything like that."
During that war, he was in the Navy, "attached to the Marines." He became fascinated with military paraphernalia after being discharged and bought his first Jeep in 1946 for $35.
"There was so much around (after the war) you could walk into any surplus store and buy for 35 cents what today would cost $150," he said. "Even my wife asked, 'What are you collecting that junk for?'"
Some of his vehicles and equipment are traceable to individuals, he said. "I have some very rare vehicles, like a prototype Jeep. It's all in Santa Fe now."
Barbara Hagood, who will work hard searching for grant money to build the museum, said, there's a lot of planning that goes along with it.
"They have a collection that is world class, and Rio Rancho has an opportunity to have a major museum, which they don't have right now," Hagood said. "And what could be better than the timing for the city to be going through all their long-range planning and economic development? It would be an anchor for the state."
Among Holzer's collection of 57 vehicles are German ammunition wagons, Harley Davidson motorcycles with sidecars, a half-track, and a staff car, all WWII vintage. There is also a Marines motorcycle from Vietnam.
His collection also includes weaponry, some of Civil War vintage, and a 30.06 Garand rifle; Japanese flags, German beer steins, Spanish-American War belts.
Other donations are expected to come from members of the New Mexico Military Vehicle Preservation Association Roadrunner Chapter.
"We have agreed to put together a resolution for the Sept. 28 council meeting; obviously it will be subject to council approval," said city administrator Jim Palenick, who, along with assistant legal counsel Margo Steadman, met with the veterans.
"Essentially, it will say something like the city commits to provide up to five acres of land for the sighting of such a museum near a traffic access point within the community, at such point in time as they're capable of identifying at least 75 percent of the necessary capital funding, and that a business plan is in place that shows the long-term means by which they will provide for financing, and probably have perhaps 36 months to get there to do so. Then that will be entirely up to the city council to see if they want to approve that," Palenick said.
Councilor Mike Williams, who has attended planning meetings with the veterans, said he would sponsor the resolution.
"I would like to get that done as soon as possible," Williams said. "I was with them in the meeting prior. I'm definitely behind it, supporting it. They are going to do a letter of interest on the five acres for the Sept. 28 meeting, saying, 'yes, the city is interested in giving them the five acres.' The resolution will show the support; I will sponsor the resolution."
As it stands the majority of the city council is behind this project," Dale Nelson said. Nelson, a disabled veteran who lives in Rio Rancho, helped make the city's Veterans Monument Park a reality and seemingly is ready to help the city secure another way to honor those who have fought for their country.
"There are 250,000 veterans in the state of New Mexico," Nelson added, looking forward to soliciting such donations during the upcoming Veterans Day observance here in November.
Ellie