Offutt Top 3 to honor fallen warriors with memorial

  • Published
  • By Ryan Hansen
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  For years Team Offutt has been honoring their fallen warriors at different locations and venues, but now thanks to the Offutt Top 3 Association they'll have a special place dedicated for such occasions.

On March 23, ground was broken on the historical parade grounds here for the Offutt Fallen Warrior Memorial.

The memorial will be approximately 90' square feet in size and features a polished black star with the seals of each service represented in bronze around it. In the center of the star will be the customary boots, rifle and helmet in bronze, constantly lit by solar accent lights.

The Offutt Top 3 Association has been working on this project for almost two years now and to see it come to fruition is a dream come true.

"We're very proud that we'll have a place to honor service members from Team Offutt and our local community who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our nation," said Master Sgt. David Vasser, U.S. Strategic Command J2 SJ-R regional Division superintendent and Top 3 member.

Getting to this point wasn't an easy task for the Top 3.

After gaining 55th Wing approval in November of 2010, the association then had to have the project reviewed by the Nebraska Historical Society. Their approval was required because their proposed site for the memorial was on state historical land.

Finally, with those two signatures in hand, the association could start looking at potential designs and costs.

"We looked at other memorials around the country and came up with a design that we believed encompassed everything we wanted," Vasser said.

After speaking with multiple contractors around the local area, the group selected L.J. Construction. The price tag for the memorial, to include the construction and the bronze soldier's cross and service emblems, came to $21,000.

"This memorial is going to be beautiful," said Morgan McGary, a recently retired Air Force master sergeant, who helped start this project as a member of the Top 3. "The design honors the sacrifices of all services and will add to the history of the parade grounds."

With a final cost established, the group started focusing their efforts on raising funds for the project. So far they have raised more than $10,000 for the project.

"The owner of L.J. Construction is a veteran and he's been just tremendous to work with," McGary said. "He will go-ahead with construction of the site while we continue to raise funds."

The Top 3 has established a website (www.offuttfallenmemorial.com) where people can go online and make donations.

And as a private organization, the Top 3 can also seek funds from the local community to make this memorial a reality.

"This isn't just for Offutt, this is for our entire community," said Master Sgt. Charles Puffer, 55th Security Forces first sergeant, and Top 3 member. "The Bellevue and Omaha communities are famous for their support of the military and I have no doubt we'll be able to raise the rest of the funds."

At the ground breaking was Col. Kevin Dixon, 55th Wing vice commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Suzan Sangster, 55th Wing command chief, as well as many members of the Top 3.

"I'm very thankful to the Top 3 for making this happen," Sangster said. "It is something that Team Offutt has needed and I'm grateful for their hard work and dedication."

For more information on the Offutt Fallen Warrior Memorial, visit their website or contact any member of the Top 3.