thedrifter
08-28-09, 07:46 AM
August 27, 2009
Monument to military gets push
Horseheads man proposed tribute near airport
By Roger Neumann
rneumann@gannett.com
A Horseheads man who served with the Marines in Vietnam wants to honor his fellow veterans and those now serving in the military with a monument near the Elmira Corning Regional Airport.
Bohdan Pankevych, who now works with recruiters to test candidates for the military, said he's been quietly pushing his monument plan for about two years.
Only recently did he go public with the project, putting a model on display at Arnot Mall just inside the entrance near the Ruby Tuesday restaurant. Even so, he's reluctant to take credit for it.
"The whole emphasis is on the memorial and the memories that this memorial would commemorate," he said. "It's not a story of some little fella who's trying to pay due respect to people whose memories should be kept alive always."
Pankevych, 62, a native of Buffalo, said his shiny black model, built of luan, contains a 5-foot-tall center column flanked by two 7-foot-wide panels. He said he has permission to keep the model on display at the mall until October, and possibly longer.
"The idea is that they represent the arms of the military," he said of the wings. "People who haven't been in the military don't realize this, but it really has an embracing mission to it. It takes its people and it cares for them."
Pankevych has proposed that the full-size monument have an 11-foot-tall center with 28-foot-wide wings. He estimates that it would cost around $120,000.
But he said that's just one concept, and he's open to other designs.
Pankevych said he thinks a location near the airport would give the monument the widest possible exposure. He envisions it being seen from the air, as planes land, and from Interstate 86.
He wrote to Mike Hall, president and CEO of the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, asking if the monument could be placed on the facility's grounds. Hall told this newspaper he supports the project but wants more information before making a commitment.
"The idea of a monument to military members has merit, and if appropriate plans and support are available, we certainly would be willing to consider hosting the monument here on the Wings of Eagles property," said Hall, a retired Air Force major general.
But he said the proposal would need the approval of the airport administration, because the center is on airport property, and from Chemung County, which owns the airport.
Pankevych said he's still developing those plans and seeking support. He said he will eventually seek nonprofit status for the project and will not ask for donations until that happens.
Ellie
Monument to military gets push
Horseheads man proposed tribute near airport
By Roger Neumann
rneumann@gannett.com
A Horseheads man who served with the Marines in Vietnam wants to honor his fellow veterans and those now serving in the military with a monument near the Elmira Corning Regional Airport.
Bohdan Pankevych, who now works with recruiters to test candidates for the military, said he's been quietly pushing his monument plan for about two years.
Only recently did he go public with the project, putting a model on display at Arnot Mall just inside the entrance near the Ruby Tuesday restaurant. Even so, he's reluctant to take credit for it.
"The whole emphasis is on the memorial and the memories that this memorial would commemorate," he said. "It's not a story of some little fella who's trying to pay due respect to people whose memories should be kept alive always."
Pankevych, 62, a native of Buffalo, said his shiny black model, built of luan, contains a 5-foot-tall center column flanked by two 7-foot-wide panels. He said he has permission to keep the model on display at the mall until October, and possibly longer.
"The idea is that they represent the arms of the military," he said of the wings. "People who haven't been in the military don't realize this, but it really has an embracing mission to it. It takes its people and it cares for them."
Pankevych has proposed that the full-size monument have an 11-foot-tall center with 28-foot-wide wings. He estimates that it would cost around $120,000.
But he said that's just one concept, and he's open to other designs.
Pankevych said he thinks a location near the airport would give the monument the widest possible exposure. He envisions it being seen from the air, as planes land, and from Interstate 86.
He wrote to Mike Hall, president and CEO of the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, asking if the monument could be placed on the facility's grounds. Hall told this newspaper he supports the project but wants more information before making a commitment.
"The idea of a monument to military members has merit, and if appropriate plans and support are available, we certainly would be willing to consider hosting the monument here on the Wings of Eagles property," said Hall, a retired Air Force major general.
But he said the proposal would need the approval of the airport administration, because the center is on airport property, and from Chemung County, which owns the airport.
Pankevych said he's still developing those plans and seeking support. He said he will eventually seek nonprofit status for the project and will not ask for donations until that happens.
Ellie