The MOWW Department of Arizona Memorial

The Department of Arizona erected a memorial at the Veterans Administration National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 2320 N. Cave Creek Road , Phoenix , Arizona . The monument was the third one to be placed in the cemetery. It is a large square stone with the logo of the Order and “Department of Arizona 23 Oct 1992 ” on the front. On the top is an inscription: “The Military Order of the World Wars Honors All Who Served in the Defense of Freedom.” The monument was moved from the service road and is located in the Founder’s Plaza, which contains a circle of monuments erected by veteran organizations around the national and Arizona flags. All MOWW chapters in the state of Arizona contributed on a prorated basis for the memorial project. The monument was dedicated at a ceremony, which included MOWW Past CINC COL O. G. A. Mastroianni, and Mr. Jim Brown, Chairman, Arizona Veteran Service Commission, as speakers. The ceremony was conducted by LTC Ted Dreveniak, Monument Project Officer. See information about this another other MOWW monuments on the web site.

Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial

The memorial dedicated to all veterans is located at Webb Park , Rancho Bernardo, California . The General J.P. Holland, California, Chapter, and Chapter 7766 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars originally formed an organization committee through the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation. In 1977, the Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial Association was established and was granted nonprofit status under IRS Section 501 (c)(19). Since then, the association has independently raised operating funds through annual grants and personal contributions. On July 4, 1994 , the memorial was dedicated by Congressman Randy Cunningham. The memorial consists of nine benches arranged in a circle with five in the center and two on each side. The site has a central monument with a large bronze casting having the U.S. flag surrounded by the artist concept related to each armed service. Large bronze MOWW and VFW logos appear on the sides of the monument. A flag flies there 24 hours a day and is illuminated at night. Ceremonies are conducted by the Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial Association and members of the MOWW General J.P. Holland, California, Chapter and VFW Post 7766 on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Veterans Day with attendance between 250 and 500.

 
Oklahoma City Chapter Honors Its Perpetual Deceased With Monument

Members of the Oklahoma City MOWW chapter dedicated a lasting memorial to its perpetual deceased members on Veterans Day, 2003, following a several month project of planning funding, creating and installing a beautiful granite monument.

The monument was installed at the Arlington Memory Gardens in east Oklahoma City. On the monument is engraved the names of former comrades who have passed on. Each year, prior to Veterans Day, names of those lost during the preceding 12 months will be added to the monument. Interestingly, three perpetual companions died between the time of the engraving of the monument and its dedication date.

Leader in the development of the project was BG Dana Batey, assisted by CWO Bill Nichols. However, a large number of the chapter members played roles in making it happen.

Cost of the monument and its installation was covered through donations from chapter members, along with a substantial number of living widows of those being honored. In addition, the Arlington Memory Gardens, the burial grounds where the monument was installed, made major contributions in ground preparation and in other ways.

It was nearly 20 years ago that the Arlington Memory Gardens donated land on its property to the MOWW chapter, and chapter members obtained a World War II tank, which they mounted on rocks and placed on the site. The monument honoring deceased companions was installed last fall on this site, with the World War II tank in its background. The tank was repainted by the Oklahoma Army National Guard with paint furnished by the Arlington Memory Gardens.

The dedication event was preceded by a luncheon given to MOWW by the Officers Club at Tinker Air Force Base, where the chapter meets monthly, and was attended by 135 chapter companions and spouses, along with widows of those being honored.

Speaker for the dedication event was BG Ed Wheeler of Tulsa, who is a member, and the original commander of the Eastern Oklahoma chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars. Roll call of the deceased on the monument was given by Majors Valerie and Walter Evans, both member of the National Guard in Tulsa. Presentation and retrieving of colors were performed by the Midwest City High School Junior ROTC.