Lake Havasu to receive monument for Veterans Park

10/1/09
Lake Havasu will soon have the first monument to be placed in the future Veterans Park. The Freedom Bridge Foundation has announced that Lake Havasu City has been chosen to receive a granite monument offered by a Massachusetts company.

Mark and Debra Blain, owners of Fireplace Mantels Etc., in Millbury, Mass., created the prototype 8-foot-tall statue in honor of American troops fighting overseas — depicting an American soldier in uniform standing in front of a stone U.S.A and waving American flag — and decided they wanted to give it away.

After watching the film "Taking Chance," in which Kevin Bacon plays a U.S. Marine bringing a fallen comrade home, the Blains decided they wanted to donate it to an area town that didn't have the funds on hand to build their own monument.

"That movie moved us so much that after the movie we said let's give it away to a deserving town or organization that would proudly display it," Debra Blain said.

Unfortunately, the town they offered it to ultimately declined it, so they invited cities anywhere in the U.S. to apply for the statue. Lake Havasu City was selected out of more than 300 applicants.

“The Freedom Bridge Foundation, through letters and phone calls, convinced the Blains and the selection committee that Lake Havasu City is earning the name of the most patriotic city in the U.S.,” said Margaret Nyberg, Freedom Bridge Foundation President. “We explained the ways in which we honor and pay tribute to all veterans, as well as police and fire personnel, and that we are creating a Memorial Walkway and Veterans Park to honor our troops and veterans. We promised that the statue would be treasured here.”

Plans are being worked on for transporting the statue, valued at $35,000, from Massachusetts to Lake Havasu City.

ODE TO AMERICA

This article was written by Cornel Nistorescu and published under the title 'C'ntarea Americii, meaning “Ode to America ,” in the Romanian newspaper Evenimentulzilei (“The Daily Event” or “News of the Day”). The Freedom Bridge Foundation’s very existence is based on freedom and raising awareness of those who have fought for our freedom. This article is a profound tribute to America and its freedom.


AN ODE TO AMERICA

Why are Americans so united? They would not resemble one another even if you painted them all one color! They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations and religious beliefs.

On 9/11, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a hand put on the heart. Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the Army, or the Secret Service that they are only a bunch of losers. Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts. Nobody rushed out onto the streets nearby to gape about.

Instead the Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand.

After the first moments of panic, they raised their flag over the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps, and ties in the colors of the national flag. They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a government official or the president was passing. On every occasion, they started singing: “God Bless America.”

I watched the live broadcast and rerun after rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the Californian hockey player, who gave his life fighting with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target that could have killed other hundreds or thousands of people.

How on earth were they able to respond united as one human being? Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put into collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit, which no money can buy. What on earth can unites the Americans in such way? Their land? Their history? Their economic power? Money? I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases with the risk of sounding commonplace, I thought things over, I reached but only one conclusion. . . . Only freedom can work such miracles.

Cornel Nistorescu


Nistorescu, managing director of the Romanian newspaper, remains surprised and touched by the success of the piece, one of thousands he has penned in his 20-year career.

“It is all about the American spirit and how freedom cannot be crushed,” he says.

Local Author’s Book Signing to Benefit Freedom Bridge

August 23, 2009
Author Mike Aldridge is not only a Havasu native son, he was the very first baby born in Lake Havasu City. Mike is holding a book-signing for his just-released book, “An Ocean Away,” on September 11, 2009 at Shugrue’s Bridgeview Room at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for $60/person, and include dinner, entertainment by Jimmy and the Wave Runners – a Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band – and a signed hardcover copy of the book. Aldridge is donating all proceeds to benefit the Freedom Bridge Foundation. For tickets call 928-453-4703 or 928-854-2471, or purchase them at Shugrue’s Restaurant.

Nyberg to Take Over September 1, 2009 as FBF President

August 2009
The FBF Board of Directors unanimously voted to appoint Lake Havasu City Councilmember Margaret Nyberg as its new President, effective September 1.

"I am excited to continue the work of the Freedom Bridge Foundation,” Nyberg said. “We have many wonderful volunteers who have been working very hard for our success and I hope to support their efforts and bring more people to help with the goals of the foundation.”

Nyberg replaces FBF Founder Brian Wedemeyer, who announced his resignation last month. Wedemeyer will continue to serve on the Board of Directors.

"I can't even begin to describe how proud I am of what the FBF volunteers have been able to accomplish in a little over two years," Wedemeyer said.

Freedom Brick Ale

August 2009
Freedom Brick Ale, which is brewed by Barley Bros. in Lake Havasu City and available at a handful of other local establishments, is gaining popularity at a rapid pace.

The Freedom Bridge Foundation receives a small portion of each beer sale. Last month, Barley Bros. issued a check for nearly $800 to the Freedom Bridge Foundation. "The local establishments who carry Freedom Brick Ale have been selling out quickly," Brian Wedemeyer said. "This is another exciting opportunity for the Foundation."

Officials have already started planning to distribute cans and bottles Freedom Brick Ale—and possibly a "light" version—outside of Lake Havasu City, beginning with VFW Posts in Arizona. Stay tuned! If you are interested in serving Freedom Brick Ale at your establishment, contact Executive Director Larry Robinson at 928-814-6551

The Freedom Bridge Foundation Wants You!

August 2009
The Freedom Bridge Foundation is still looking for volunteers to handle a wide variety of responsibilities, including sales, event planning and promotion, administration, marketing, and much more. Volunteers meet every other Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Fire Station No. 2 (Kiowa Boulevard). If you are interested in becoming part of this worthwhile project, please contact Executive Director Larry Robinson at 928-814-6551.

City Council Wants The Wall in Lake Havasu

August 12, 2009
The Lake Havasu City Council adopted a resolution on August 11, 2009 in support of bringing the Traveling Vietnam Wall here on a permanent basis in the future.

The Traveling Wall, which is part of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute, attracted more than 25,000 people during a four-day visit to Lake Havasu City in March 2009.

"The AVTT group described Lake Havasu City as the most patriotic city in America," Freedom Bridge Foundation President Brian Wedemeyer said. "This resolution puts us at the top of the list when the Wall is ready for retirement."

The Traveling Wall would eventually be installed in the future Veterans Park, taking its place among other war memorials the Freedom Bridge Foundation plans to install at the Park.