Military News: A new monument under construction at Fort Campbell, Ky., will honor soldiers who have served in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) throughout its history, including those who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq in support of the war on terror.

          Today we salute 20 American Heroes
          who gave their lives for our freedom.
          Read their Medal of Honor Citations.

Let the GI Bill pay for your degree.

Get your home with a VA Loan

Forgotten password
Login questions?
FREE sign up!

MILITARY TUITION ASSISTANCE:
GI Bill: Active
GI Bill: Reserve
Tuition Top-up
VEAP: Veterans
DEA: Dependants

GI BILL SCHOOLS:
AIU Online
University of Phoenix
CTU Online
DeVry University
Ellis College
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division
Kaplan University
Florida Tech University Online
Villanova University
Grantham University
U.S. Army
Walden University
Capella University
Jones International University©

More GI Bill Schools

Pioneer Military Loans offers an on-line loan service designed to provide military personnel immediate access to cash no matter where they are stationed worldwide. Get a fast military loan today.

SITES OF INTEREST
--------------------
VA Home Loans
GI Bill Benefits
Veteran News

Monument to Honor 101st Airborne Division Soldiers

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Mortgage Center
Getting a VA home loan is easier than most people think. Learn more...

CTU Online
Climb to the peak of your profession with a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Executive MBA degree. Learn more...

WASHINGTON, March 24, 2004 -- A new monument under construction at Fort Campbell, Ky., will honor soldiers who have served in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) throughout its history, including those who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq in support of the war on terror.

The monument, directly in front of the division headquarters building, is a large, jet-black granite obelisk with panels that depict the division's storied history: in World War II, the Vietnam conflict, Operation Desert Storm and recent operations including Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Unlike traditional monuments, however, the obelisk is inverted, with the wider base toward the top. "That's because the unit has always been and will always be very different - bold," said retired 1st Sgt. Billy Colwell, the monument's designer and key fundraiser as chairman of the 101st Airborne Division Association's monument committee. "We used the obverse obelisk as a symbol of boldness and departing from convention."

Etchings with 23-karat gold inlay on all four panels recall challenges posed by the division's first commander, Maj. Gen. William C. Lee, who urged the first Screaming Eagle troops during World War II to train hard, be bold and be aggressive in preparation for their "rendezvous with destiny."

The latest addition to the monument, to be unveiled during the division's "Week of the Eagles" celebration in June, will be engravings depicting the 101st's contributions to the war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The monument design incorporates an eternal flame atop the obelisk - a symbol, Colwell said, of the division's readiness for duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

So far, all costs of the monument have been funded through the 101st Airborne Division Association and donations from the local communities and friends of the division. Now the association is selling 2,400 pavers that will surround the monument's base to defray costs of completing the monument.

Each paver - symbolically being sold for $101 - will be engraved with the name of a person or organization. Information about purchasing pavers is available on the 101st Airborne Division Association's Web site. Nineteen pavers will bear the names of Medal of Honor recipients from the division - two from World War II and 17 from Vietnam.

Once additional funds are raised, Colwell said the monument will include life- size bronze statues of four "Screaming Eagle" soldiers wearing the uniforms and carrying the weaponry of various periods in the division's history.

Colwell admitted it's "an awesome task to make a monument to a division," especially one with such a proud heritage as the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), he added.

"This unit is different. It's the only air assault division in the world," Colwell said. "There's a pride in this unit that very few units have. And our dream is to have a monument that reflects that."

Add your comment

You must be logged in to leave comments.

Contracting: A Sure Bet For Veterans
July 10, 2009
If you are interested in working in contracting once you return to civilian life, the Federal Contractor Program can help you get a jump on your career.

Use Your Military Training to Become an Operations Manager
July 10, 2009
You can translate your supply chain know-how into a successful civilian career as an Operations Manager. All you need is a degree.

Build a Career in Engineering
July 10, 2009
Take your engineering skills to the next level with a bachelor's degree. It can help prepare you for a civilian job as an engineering manager.

>> MILITARY NEWS ARCHIVE

- VA home loans: get today's low rates!

- Build a solid future with a degree from AIU Online.

- Need your DD214? Certificate of Eligibility?

- Military Loans for Veterans and Active Duty