Memorial becomes reality with help of Viera Builders

Special To Senior Life

Since 1947, the mission of long-range detection has been the responsibility of what is now known as the Air Force Technical Applications Center. During the course of those 75 years, 81 airmen — civilian and military — have died while in active government service.

When AFTAC headquarters was moved to a new building in 2014, staff realized that plaques with the names of the fallen service members were antiquated.

AFTAC’s former historian, Dr. James “Mike” Young, decided it was time to find a solution to the situation. He worked closely with AFTAC alumni to see what could be done to appropriately recognize the fallen members of the Department of Defense’s sole nuclear treaty monitoring organization. Through a series of meetings, years of research, and the drive to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the AFTAC Memorial Corporation was founded.

The corporation, a nonprofit organization, became an official entity in January 2018. Five former AFTAC employees formed the initial cadre of officers: Lou Seiler, president; Jim Whidden, director; Young, director; David Charitat, secretary; and Arlin Massey, treasurer. Shortly after their initial meetings, another former AFTAC alumnus, Mark Bitter, joined the board.

Seiler and other members of the board approached Viera Builders for an estimate on a concrete pad for the memorial. After some discussion, the company decided to donate the entire pad, including labor and materials toward the construction of the monument.

Viera Builders became the corporation’s first Platinum Donor. The memorial consists of a

As ground is broken for a new memorial at the Air Force leaders symbolically toss shoveled earth where the memorial will be once worked at the nuclear treaty monitoring center. Pictured are:

Finlayson, AFTAC commander; Todd Pokrywa, The Viera Company president; vice commander; and Nick Crowe, Viera Builders executive vice president.

15-foot square concrete pad to hold two granite wall segments that will display the names of the fallen, along with a granite pedestal and two stone benches. The brick walkway will lead from AFTAC’s flagpole to the pad.

“In a perfect world, and if additional funding becomes available, we hope to install a lithium-ion sculpture made of brushed steel that we will mount to the granite pedestal,” Seiler said. “But for now, we’re very pleased with how the memorial is coming along.”

The corporation and its donors are anticipating a completion date of early June.

Anyone interested in having a brick inscribed should go to donate. brickmarkers.com/aftacmc. SL

Congrats

fourth time volunteering. “What we need are more cleanup helpers and less people throwing away their trash.” PINEDA

Continued from page 6 large sites. “We cleaned up one area, and picked up 1,100 pallet nails — 92 pounds worth,” Leone said. The group has also found clothing, computer monitors, boat parts, weapons and ammunition (the sheriff’s office is notified) and animal carcasses.

SENIOR recycling coordinator, brings a bucket of trash from a wooded section under the causeway. He said he often joins the Pineda Waterway Warriors for Saturday cleanups. “It’s hard to find harder-core volunteers,” he said.

Two county Rotary clubs sent volunteers in February, and Matt Margot, president of Indialantic Rotary, said his group is working with Florida DOT to adopt the Eau Gallie Causeway for cleanup. The Zonta Club adopted the Melbourne Causeway. “We try to improve our community, and the environment is an area of concern,” he said. SL

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