Donations Needed for 2009 Community Service ProjectWestern Slope Vietnam War Memorial Park
Associated Builders and Contractors Western Colorado Chapter has selected its 2009 Community Service project: Western Slope Vietnam War Memorial Park. This Memorial is dedicated to the men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War (1959-1975).
ABC will be assisting the Memorial Park with exterior maintenance and upgrades. The total value of time, labor and materials is approximately $40,000. ABC will need help from its members in the following areas:
- Stucco cinderblock at entrance and service ribbons. The current facility has cinder block which doesn’t provide a clean look. Stucco would spruce it up, not the highest of priorities.
- Repair spalling concrete throughout park area. The maintenance crew loves ice melt and have compromised the surface of the concrete by applying it everywhere. The spalling is heaviest where the snow is piled up and sits for an extended period of time. The remedy is an overlay product to resurface those areas.
- Southside entrance needs metal railing. Vehicles parking at the adjacent hotel back into the split rail wood fence and keep pushing it over further and further. A metal rail fence or protective railing in front of the existing fence would reduce that.
- Re-attach tail rotor. This is going to be a combination of metal fabricator and welding to place a permanent installation. A crane and man-lift will be needed for access and placement.
- Repair broken overhead window. The window has a large gap that allows weather and bugs inside the Huey. A possible fix is to place black sheet metal from the inside and secure a tight seal. The window is barely visible from the ground, but needs something done.
- Seal bird hole nesting areas. There are 8 holes from various accessories that are about the diameter of a pop can. A metal plug, painted green, could be placed with either screws, rivets, or epoxy at all 8 locations.
- Huey lighting. The Huey has some service lights which could be activated using a detector switch and powered by low voltage wiring from power already available.
- Painting. Handrails, mount poles, metal frames all need a new coat of black paint. This is something anyone in general membership could participate with. An airless sprayer would make quick work of the handrails.
- Painting Service Ribbons. These were once powder-coated and have faded in the sun. Again, general membership could help with this.
- Core drill for drainage. This is a little more involved process. The entire platform area has settled between 1” and 2” from original elevation. This prevents moisture from being able to exit the platform and adds to the problem of further settling. Slab jacking could help the situation; some drains could help reduce the problem from increasing. Could take some decorative sheet metal work to mask the drains themselves on the vertical face.
- Caulk perimeter base of monument. This goes with the item above. The settling has dropped the slab below the caulk line and will need replaced when the settling issue gets addressed.
- Raise and level bricks. There are brick areas with brace commemorative plates in sections of the sidewalk that have settled. The bricks need pulled up, a sand base leveled underneath, and the brick caulked back into place. Again, this is one the general membership could participate with.
- Insulate and weatherproof sound system storage. Rigid insulation placed inside the compartment would surface, weather-stripping along the access door should take care of it.
Additional Items:
- The main rotor has shifting from the framework within the Huey. The rotor assembly has moved forward and actually moves with a strong wind (it’s not intended to do so). They have requested a mechanic type welder to get into the Huey and see if welds have broken or what is needed to shore up that assembly.
This is the most pressing issue due to the safety of the display as a whole.
- Removal of sod along southern fence adjacent to hotel parking. About 24” wide by 80’ long. This area is difficult to mow due to access and gravel replacement would better serve the use. This is the same area as item #3.
No donation is too small. We will also need lots of volunteers who are able to give their time and semi-skilled labor to the cause. This is a great way to involve yourself in the community, honor those who fought for our country, learn a little and have fun while doing so!
Please contact the ABC Offices if you want to help out in any way. ABC will be soliciting donations from parties who are skilled in these areas, and giving regular updates on our progress.
Questions? Email Paul Burdett with Mays Concrete at pburdett@maysconcrete.com
Thanks To Those Who Have Already Donated
Bobcat of the Rockies
Clarke & Co. Inc.
EC Electric, Inc.
Express Employment Professionals
Extreme Construction & Development Corp.
HUB International
Mays Concrete
Mesa State College CM Program
Petty Construction
Robinson Brick
Skillstaff/SOS Staffing Company