-Dinner and Dedication of Cold War National Memorial-Over the last 5+ years Post Commander Michael L. Emerson has been donating his time and expertise to help design and build the “Silent Heroes of the Cold War National Memorial” at Mt. Charleston in Las Vegas, Nevada. Michael, as a member of the Committee, worked with the founder Steve Ririe and the other Committee members to build this beautiful Memorial to honor and remember all Cold War Warriors. It is the first National Memorial in the State of Nevada. Michael, his girlfriend Mary, and his youngest son Tyler went to the Dedication the night before at the Texas Station Casino & Hotel and the following day we had the Dedication at the Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway Park on Friday, 29 May 2015. Michael invited his friend Mark Hall-Patton (who is on the TV show Pawn Stars) as his guest to the Dinner and the Dedication. We are all very proud of the “Cold War Memorial” Thank you to everyone both, military and civilian, for helping the USA and its Allies to win the Cold War. Las Vegas, Nevada. 28 & 29 May 2015.
– APPROVAL TO START BUILDING HAYWARD 9/11 MEMORIAL –
Hayward City Council members: Left to right: Francisco Zermeno, Al Mendall, Greg Jones, Mayor Barbara Halliday, Marvin Peixoto, Sara Lamnin, and Eliza Marquez all voted YES to approve moving forward and allowing to start building the Hayward 9/11 Memorial. At City Hall Chambers in downtown Hayward, California. Tuesday, 23 June 2015.
– MEETING WITH BUILD PLANS ENGINEER –
Jeff Moore of Greenwood & Moore, Inc. meeting with Michael L. Emerson at Jeff’s offices to go over the engineering build plans of the Hayward 9/11 Memorial before Michael submits them to the City of Hayward for approval. Jeff and his company donated all of their great work. Thank you Jeff and your crew. Castro Valley, California. Tuesday, 14 July 2015.
– DELIVERY OF THE RED GRANITE –
Today we received the delivery of the 7 donated pieces of Wausau Red Granite from Anderson Brothers & Johnson / Michels Corp. out of Wausau, Wisconsin. They donated all of the granite and the “flaming” of the granite – Thank you Moe, Tom and their crew. We used Dakota Valley Shipping out of Milbank, South Dakota who gave us a reduced price to ship it all to us here in Hayward, CA – Thank you Daryl and his crew. It was delivered to Art’s Monument Company in Hayward, CA who offloaded it and will store, engrave and deliver it to us at the Memorial site when we need it – Thank you Andrew and Sam. Wednesday, 22 July 2015.
– PICKING UP THE BUILDING PERMIT –
Hayward 9/11 Memorial Founder, Designer, and Build Manager Michael L. Emerson (center) with Steve Osborne (left) who is the City of Hayward’s Supervising Plan Checker / Expeditor and Sondra Barnard (right) the City’s Senior Permit Technician. Emerson went over the approved Engineer Build Drawings with them and pickup the Memorial’s Build Permit. Hayward City Hall in Hayward, California. Wednesday, 22 July 2015.
– PICTURES OF THE GRASS SOD REMOVAL –
Photos after the City of Hayward’s landscaping crew removed the grass sod and sprinklers to recycle and use at another Hayward location. The Memorial will be built in the middle of the dirt area, the excavation of the site will be done next week after the security fence is installed on Monday, 27 July 2015. The official and formal “ground breaking” ceremony at the site is on Friday, 24 July 2015 at 2PM. Hayward, California. Wednesday, 22 July 2015.
– OFFICIAL GROUND BREAKING –
We had the formal ground breaking at the Memorial site. We had Mayor Halliday and the City Council and many from City Staff attend. Sheriff Ahern and many officers from the Sheriff’s office. The Salvation Army. The VFW. The American Legion. AMVETS and AMVETS Honor Guard. BART Director John McPartland, the mother and sister of 9/11 hero/victim Wanda Green and many local citizens. And importantly many of the Contractors who will build the Memorial. Speakers where: Michael L. Emerson, Mayor Barbara Halliday, Bart Director John McPartland, and General Contractor Brian Morrison. TV stations ABC, CBS, and NBC also a local radio station and a Chinese film crew who all filmed and interviewed people, later in the evening and night the event was broadcast several times on the TV news. Thank you to all who attended and participated. Hayward, California. Friday, 24 July 2015.
– PICTURES OF THE SECURITY FENCE INSTALL –
Photos after the company Hanson & Fitch installed the security fencing around the Memorial site. They donated the fence and the fence installation for the duration of the Memorial build. Thank you to Tim, Kari and their crew. Hayward, California. Monday, 27 July 2015.
– BEGINNING OF SITE EXCAVATION –
Photo #1 shows some of the City of Hayward’s workers with Landscape Supervisor Tom Rossi (in red hat) – Thanks for the help and support guys. The other photos, and in the mini-bulldozer, is General Contractor Brian Morrison, who is donating the needed excavation of the site with the assistance of Concrete Contractor Dan Long and his crew – Thanks guys. This is the 1st day of excavation. Hayward, California. Wednesday, 29 July 2015.
– SECOND DAY OF SITE EXCAVATION –
Photo #1 shows, left to right: Contractors: Dan Long, Brian Morrison, and Fernando working at the Memorial site. Digging the footings for the 11 Memorial granite pieces. This is the second day of excavation. Hayward, California. Thursday, 30 July 2015.
– THIRD DAY OF SITE EXCAVATION –
Some photos on the third day of excavation. The center photo is the Memorial’s founder, designer, and build manager Michael L. Emerson using a mechanical digger in the Flight 93 Monolith concrete base hole. The guys are doing a great job and the site is really taking shape. And the staff and workers from the City of Hayward are great support. Next week the concrete forming and rebar goes in. Hayward, California. Friday, 31 July 2015.
– FIRST DAY OF CONCRETE FORMING –
Contractor Dan Long and his crew working on putting up the wood forms for the concrete pour. Keep up the good work guys! Hayward, California. Monday, 3 August 2015.
– ELECTRICAL CREW FOR THE MEMORIAL –
First photo left to right: Designer and Build Mgr. Michael L. Emerson, Landscaper Gary Pacheco, and Project Mgr. and Electrician Larry Lepore working on the electrical layout and electrical trenching for the Memorial. Second photo is of the concrete wood forming for the Memorial. Hayward, California. Tuesday, 4 August 2015.
– CONCRETE CREW DOING THE REBAR –
Dan Long Concrete’s crew putting together the rebar for pedestals of the Memorial’s granite pieces. We will be doing the first pour for the granite concrete pedestals on Tuesday, 11 August 2015. Hayward, California. Wednesday, 5 August 2015.
– REBAR INSPECTION & ELECTRICAL WORK –
First photo left to right: Concrete Contractor Dan Long, City of Hayward Senior Building Inspector Omar Noorzad, and Project Mgr. / Electrician Larry Lepore. Second photo: Rebar and Flag pole sleeve for the Memorial’s center name stone. Third photo: The rebar for the Memorial’s Monoliths and benches. Hayward, California. Friday, 7 August 2015.
– CONCRETE CREW FRAMING FOR CONCRETE –
Dan Long Concrete’s crew putting together the wood framing for the pedestals for the Memorial’s granite pieces. We will be doing the first concrete pour for the pedestals tomorrow. Hayward, California. Tuesday, 11 August 2015.
– FIRST CONCRETE POUR –
Top three photos are of Dan Long and his crew putting/pouring the concrete for the 10 pedestals for the Memorial’s granite pieces. First bottom photo is of Dan Long and Michael L. Emerson putting one of the Memorial’s coins in the center name stone’s concrete to be part of the Memorial forever, the second bottom photo is of Ross Bigler who is a major donor and a sponsor of one of the Memorial benches, the third bottom photo is Michael L. Emerson and one of the Memorial’s coins with the finished concrete pedestals in the background. Coins are for sale at $10 each on this website. Hayward, California. Wednesday, 12 August 2015.
– COMPLETED CONCRETE PEDESTALS –
First photo, left to right: Construction workers Fernando, Project Mgr/Electrician Larry Lepore, and Designer/Build Mgr. Michael L. Emerson. Second photo: Construction workers Chalo and Fernando. Third photo: The 10 concrete pedestals for the granite with the wood forms removed. Hayward, California. Thursday, 13 August 2015.
– WOOD FORMING FOR CONCRETE COLLARS –
Dan Long Concrete’s crew installing the wood forming for the next concrete pour for the collars of the granite pedestals. The second pour is planned on Monday, 17 Aug 2015. Then on Tuesday, 18 Aug 2015 the “base rock” will be installed for the third and final concrete pour which will be done by the end of the week. Hayward, California. Friday, 14 August 2015.
– ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION WORK –
Electrician Lane Berry Jr., seen in all three photos, working on putting in the electrical items needed for the Memorial. In the second photo is also Larry Lepore our Project Mgr. and lead electrician working with Lane in putting in the light fixture mounts before the second concrete pour on Monday. Hayward, California. Saturday, 15 August 2015.
– POURING THE CONCRETE COLLARS –
Dan Long Concrete’s crew pouring and finishing the concrete collars of the granite pedestals. Hayward, California. Monday, 17 August 2015.
– ELECTRICAL TRENCHING & BASEROCK INSTALL –
Top three (3) photos are of the Pacheco Brothers crew donating the electrical trenching to run the power lines and piping from the Hayward old city hall building to the seven (7) low voltage Memorial lights. The bottom three (3) photos are Dan Long Concrete’s crew putting in the baserock prior to the final concrete pour this Friday morning. In photo #5 you can see the Memorial’s designer and build mgr. Michael L. Emerson (on right) having fun shoveling some of the baserock with the crew. Hayward, California. Tuesday, 18 August 2015.
– BASEROCK AND REBAR INSTALLATION –
Dan Long Concrete’s crew finishing up the baserock and the rebar for the final concrete pour at the end of this week that goes around the 10 granite monument pedestals in the brick paver walkway areas. After the concrete cures we will put down base sand and install the brick pavers starting on 1 Sept 2015. Hayward, California. Wednesday, 19 August 2015.
– MARY GREENLEE & POLICE CHIEF URBAN –
Photo #1 is Hayward 9/11 Memorial Board of Director Mary L. Greenlee at the Memorial site standing on the Memorial’s center stone pedestal. Photo #2 is Hayward Police Chief Diane Urban and the Memorial’s Founder, Designer, and Build Manager Michael L. Emerson at the City of Hayward’s downtown Street Fair. Hayward, California. Thursday, 20 August 2015.
– FINAL CONCRETE POUR AND FINISHING –
Dan Long Concrete’s crew doing the final concrete pour and then “finishing” the concrete. Photo #4 is of designer Michael L. Emerson helping with the concrete pouring. Photo #6 is driver Tim of A-1 Ready Mix Inc. Thank you to Dan Long and his crew of guys for doing the concrete work for the Memorial at a discount. Thank you to A-1 Ready Mix for the concrete at a discount. Next week is the electrical work and on 1 Sept 2015 begin the installation of the concrete brick pavers. Hayward, California. Friday, 21 August 2015.
– ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION WORK –
Project Mgr. and Memorial lead electrician Larry Lepore working with electrician Lane Berry, Jr. running and installing the electrical connections to the Memorial. Hayward, California. Friday, 21 August 2015.
– DELIVERY OF BRICK PAVERS TO MEMORIAL SITE –
1st photo: Delivery driver Kyle, in orange, from Clark’s Home & Garden and Memorial designer Michael L. Emerson during the delivery of the brick pavers to the Memorial site. 2nd photo: Michael L. Emerson and one of the engraved brick pavers, both Art Monument and Bras & Mattos Monument are doing the engraving of the brick pavers. 3rd photo: Doug Knudson the owner of Clark’s Home & Garden at the Memorial site supervising and helping with the brick paver delivery. A special thank you goes out to Doug and his company for donating all of our 2,500 brick pavers and their delivery to the Memorial. Hayward, California. Monday, 31 August 2015.
– FIRST DAY OF BRICK PAVER INSTALLATION –
Roberto Nanez of RNR Paving and his crew working with Build Mgr. Michael L. Emerson to install the base sand and then the brick pavers for the Memorial site. Hayward, California. Tuesday, 1 September 2015.
– SECOND DAY OF BRICK PAVER INSTALLATION –
1st photo: Hayward City Council member Francisco Zermeno visiting the Memorial site and the RNR Paving installation crew. 2nd photo: RNR Paving crew working on installing the brick pavers. 3rd photo: Edgar Velasco one of the RNR Paving installers and Memorial designer Michael L. Emerson. Hayward, California. Thursday, 3 September 2015.
– THIRD DAY OF BRICK PAVER INSTALLATION –
1st photo: Hayward City Council member Francisco Zermeno visiting the Memorial site and the RNR Paving installation crew. 2nd photo: RNR Paving crew working on installing the brick pavers. 3rd photo: Edgar Velasco one of the RNR Paving installers and Memorial designer Michael L. Emerson. Hayward, California. Thursday, 3 September 2015.
– FOURTH & FINAL DAY OF BRICK PAVER INSTALLATION –
1st photo: Designer Michael L. Emerson presenting Jack Shane, the owner of A-1 Ready Mix Inc., with a thank you brick for his support and help with the concrete for the Memorial. 2nd and 3rd photos are of the RNR Paving crew finishing up the installation of the Memorial’s brick pavers. Hayward, California. Friday, 4 September 2015.
– BRICK PAVER INSTALLATION COMPLETION –
Photos of the Memorial’s Founder, Designer and Build Mgr. Michael L. Emerson with the finished installed Memorial brick pavers. If you look carefully in the third photo you can see some of the gray bricks with the wording: “WE WILL NEVER FORGET.” Next week we will install the 7 light fixtures and finish the landscaping. Hayward, California. Saturday, 5 September 2015.
– FINAL INSTALLATION OF THE 7 MEMORIAL LIGHTS –
1st photo: Project mgr. and electrician Larry Lepore installing the lighting for the 4 Monoliths, 1 light for the Center Stone, and 2 lights to illuminate the U.S. Flag. 3rd photo: Electrician Lane Berry, Jr. also installing the lighting. All of the electrical work is now complete and working perfectly. Hayward, California. Monday, 14 September 2015.
– THANK YOU BRICK PAVER TO THE VFW –
VFW District 13 Judge Advocate and Tracy VFW Post 1537 Commander Vaughn Gates showing off the “Thank You” brick paver that we presented to him to present to his Post as a thank you for donating $5,000 to sponsor the VFW bench at the Memorial. Hayward, California. Monday, 21 September 2015.
– FINAL LANDSCAPING WORK AT MEMORIAL SITE –
A crew from Pacheco Brothers adding and repairing the water sprinkler system and sprinkler heads, cleaning and leveling out the site location, and adding grass seed to the Memorial site. Pacheco Brothers has donating all of the landscaping material and labor. Thank you Pacheco Brothers. 1st photo, left to right: Samuel, Jesus and Ramon from Pacheco Brothers. Hayward, California. Wednesday, 14 October 2015.
– SPONSORSHIP DONATION FOR MEMORIAL BENCH –
Photo of Hayward business owner Victor “Rick” Felson of the Felson Companies who donated 2 checks totaling $5,000 to sponsor one of the 6 Hayward 9/11 Memorial benches. Rick is holding one of the 9/11 Thank You bricks and a 9/11 challenge coin, Michael L. Emerson is holding the 2 checks. Rick is sponsoring the MARINE CORPS LEAGUE bench in honor of his father Don and his uncle Stan who were 2 heroic defiant Jewish partisans who fought against the Nazis during WWII. Hayward, California. Tuesday, 3 November 2015.
– SPONSORSHIP DONATION FOR MEMORIAL BENCH –
Photo of Hayward business owners Alfredo (position #2) & Alicia (#3) Rodriguez of “Vintage Alley” who donated $5,000 to sponsor one of the 6 Hayward 9/11 Memorial benches. Alfredo & Alicia are holding one of the 9/11 Thank You bricks and Michael L. Emerson is holding the check (#1). Post Commander Ed Castillo (#4) is holding the image of what the bench image and wording will look like. They are sponsoring the AMERICAN LEGION, POST 68 bench. Hayward, California. Thursday, 12 November 2015.
– PREPARING TO ENGRAVE THE RED GRANITE –
Memorial Designer Michael L. Emerson (green shirt) inspecting and approving the engraving stencils for 3 of the 7 donated pieces of “Wausau Red Granite” from Anderson Brothers and Johnson / Michels Corp. out of Wausau, Wisconsin. Michael will inspect the other 4 pieces later when they are ready. Also pictured is Art Monument Company in Hayward, CA’s manager Andrew (hat) and Sam (blue shirt) who does the engraving. Wednesday, 9 December 2015.
– 3 ENGRAVED RED GRANITE BENCHES –
Images of 3 of the Memorial’s 6 Benches after their being engraved. The American Legion Bench, the Disabled Veterans Bench, and the POW/MIA Bench. The POW/MIA Bench is wet to so we can see what the bench will look like wet. Also we are planning on color enhancing the Benches and Brick Pavers so they have a wet and darker red look. All 6 Benches and the Center Name Stone will be installed the morning of 23 Dec 2015. Thursday, 10 December 2015.
– DRILLING HOLES TO INSTALL THE RED GRANITE –
Photo #1: Andrew and Wayne from Art Monument drilling the dowel install holes to install the 6 benches and 1 center name stone on Wed, 23 Dec 2015. Photo #2: American Legion, Post 68 Commander Ed Castillo watching Wayne working. Photo #3: Andrew and Wayne working hard at the Memorial site. Hayward, California. Tuesday, 15 December 2015.
– ENGRAVING OF MORE OF THE RED GRANITE –
Photo #1: Memorial designer and build mgr. Michael L. Emerson on top of the newly engraved AMVETS (American Veterans) bench. Photo #2: Andrew of Art Monument with the front of the Center Name Stone which is ready to be engraved. Photo #3: The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) newly engraved bench. Hayward, California. Wednesday, 16 December 2015.
– INSTALLING THE RED GRANITE –
Memorial Designer & Project Mgr. Michael L. Emerson (yellow construction hat) working with Hatton Crane who donated the installation and Art Monument who did the engraving of the 7 red granite “flamed” pieces and helped with installing the granite at the Memorial site. 1st photo: Michael presenting an engraved small souvenir “Thank You” brick to Hatton Crane company owner Gary Hatton Sr (dark jacket) with Joshua (orange shirt). 2nd photo: Michael installing the epoxy glue to the concrete pads and stainless steel dowels to help to permanently attach the granite bench. 3rd photo: Joshua installing the AMVETS bench donated/sponsored by Ross Bigler to honor all veterans. 4th photo: Michael installing the epoxy glue with Alfredo Rodriguez (Alfredo donated/sponsored the American Legion bench). 5th photo: Joshua of Hatton Crane (orange t-shirt) and Nick of Arts Monument (brown t-shirt) installing the American Legion bench. 6th photo: Installing the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) bench that was donated by Rick Felson of the Felson Companies. 7th photo: Installing the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) bench donated by VFW Post 1537 in Tracy, California. 8th photo: Installing the POW/MIA bench donated by Paul Gravelle of Livermore, CA “For my buddies that I served with in Vietnam.” 9th photo: Installing the Center Name Stone, Michael (in yellow hard hat) and Andrew McLennan of Arts Monument (gray shirt and blue hat). 10th photo: The proud and tired install team, left to right: Andrew, Gary, Nick, Michael, Joshua, & Alfredo. 11th photo: Michael with the a view of the Back and side of the Center Name Stone. 12th photo: Michael with a view of the Front and side of the Center Name Stone. A very special thank you to Moe Bohrer and his team at AB&J/Michels Corp. in Wausau, Wisconsin for donating all 7 pieces of the red granite and also “flaming” them for us. Hayward, California. Wednesday, 23 December 2015.
