Joint letter dated 9/20/2012 is sent
from the following US Senators to the Honorable John McHugh, Secretary of the Army asking for his support to build a monument to USS Thresher in Arlington National Cemetery (ANC):
Received reply letter dated 10/9/2012 from the Honorable John McHugh, Secretary of the Army, to Senator Ayotte notifying us of the new approval procedure and identifying the required data submittal necessary for an ANC approval review.
October 30, 2012:
Sent Project introductory letter to Ms. Kathryn A. Condon, Executive Director, Army National Military Cemeteries.
December 2012:
Learn of new legislation designed to eliminate Senate and House mandated placement of memorials in ANC to protect the limited remaining area that is suitable for burials within ANC.
Make a strategic decision to wait for the first Non-Governmental Agency seeking a commemorative monument to make it through the yet to be determined ANC approval process.
That it took over 4 years, Congressional lobbying, Congressional Hearings and 5-iterations with the CFA to gain approval.
The memorial cost including shipping installation was ~$6.000
February 2018:
Phone call with Major Shannon Way:
Request & receive a documented approval process diagram.
Learn why, from ANC's perspective, the VHPC memorial proposal required 4 years to obtain approval.
Inform that our approach to minimize the approval process duration would be to:
Match exactly the design, dimensions, material & construction of the recently approved VHPC memorial.
Replace the image of the Huey with one of the USS Thresher.
Replace the text while maintaining the exact font used by the recently approved VHPC memorial.
Respect and follow all ANC policies and fully adhere to the 2012 legislation.
Run an effective and efficient fundraising campaign to enable the creation of a perpetual care trust fund that would cover the anticipated inflation costs for memorial replacement in 100 to 200 years.
March 2018:
Incorporate the USS Thresher Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Foundation in the State of NH.
Obtain services of Flipcause, the Online fundraising site.
Begin public affairs campaign.
Kick off a project supporters letter writing campaign.
April 5, 2018:
Receive Letter to USS Thresher Supporters from Ms. Renea C. Yates, Deputy Superintendent for Cemetery Administration, ANC, stressing the importance of ensuring that the memorial does not become a burden to the tax payers in the future.
April 13, 2018 :
55th Annual USS Thresher Memorial Service
Notify family & former crew of the ANC commemorative monuments approval process, our memorial design and our strategy to gain approval.
The subcommittee informs that they need additional time to validate the assertions made in the "thorough and well written" USS Thresher ANC Commemorative Monument Proposal.
September 7, 2018:
ANC Advisory Committee Meeting
Foundation Attendees:
President Kevin Galeaz
Treasurer RADM John Clarke Orzalli
Board Member & USS Thresher Family Member Thomas Wiley
Supporting Attendees:
Naval Submarine League (NSL) Executive Director Captain Tim Oliver
Former NSL Executive Director Captain C. Michael Garverick
Our proposal was not on the meeting agenda due to not making it through the ANC Remember & Explore Subcommittee the previous day.
We made the most our visit by listening to the deliberations and introducing ourselves to Ms. Renea C. Yates, Deputy Superintendent for Cemetery Administration, ANC, and the ANC Advisory Committee members.
October 2018:
ANC Commemorative Monuments Working Group requests and obtains an evaluation of our proposal assertions from Naval Historians at the Naval History and Heritage Command.
November 1, 2018:
Update and resubmit proposal with current fundraising bank and on-line statements totaling $63,066.
During deliberations on perpetual care, Kevin Galeaz notifies the Subcommittee that with our monument purchase, Granite Industries of Vermont provides perpetual care monument insurance that is covered by a consortium of six memorial companies.
ANC Remember & Explore Subcommittee members vote unanimously to approve our request for consideration by the ANC Advisory Committee.
Board Member & USS Thresher Family Member Thomas Wiley
ANC Remember & Explore Subcommittee Chairman Command Sgt. Maj. Mark L. Farley reports that unanimous approval for our memorial proposal to be considered by the ANC Advisory Committee was made by the Subcommittee.
Receive phone notification from ANC that a recommendation to approve our memorial proposal has been made to the Secretary of the Army by Ms. Karen Durham-Aguilera, Executive Director, Army National Military Cemeteries & Ms. Katherine Kelley, Superintendent, Arlington National Cemeteries.
January 28, 2019:
Receive "Periscope Depth" Email from ANC informing us that the Secretary of the Army had approved the USS Thresher ANC Commemorative Monument for placement within Arlington National Cemetery.
ANC Engineering, Operations & Grounds staff escort Foundation representatives Kevin Galeaz & Tom Wiley on the grounds of ANC to show us four potential locations suitable for the USS Thresher ANC Memorial.
ANC Engineering team along with Tom Wiley & Major Way look at exactly where to place the memorial in the chosen location region. Kevin Galeaz is connected via cell phone with Major Way who is providing images sent via text message for feedback.
May 8, 2019:
Kevin Galeaz fine tunes the exact location & Major Way takes photographs to include in the CFA proposal.
Send 10 copies of the USS Thresher ANC Memorial Design & Location Proposal to CFA as required.
These copies are in addition to the formal CFA proposal submittal that must come direct from ANC.
June 6, 2019:
Receive notice that the USS Thresher ANC Memorial Design & Location Proposal was hand delivered to the US Commission of Fine Arts by Major Shannon Way, ANC Strategic Planner.
June 10, 2019:
Contact Fred Lindstom @ CFA to ensure the proposal meets their requirements.
Receive positive feedback regarding the proposal contents and merit. Learn that the USS Thresher ANC Commemorative Monument Design & Location Proposal is recommended for approval by the CFA.
June 20, 2019
CFA Committee Meeting
Foundation Attendees
President Kevin Galeaz
Board Member & USS Thresher Family Member Thomas Wiley
The CFA Committee votes to approve!
June 21, 2019
Notify Foundation Board Members, ANC, USS Thresher Family & Former Crew & project supporters of CFA approval, and September 26 Dedication Ceremony & Reception.