About the Project
In November and December 2009 I attended two military funerals at the Roseburg National Cemetery on W. Harvard Avenue. Prior to both memorial services we had received a measurable amount of rain; however, during the first ceremony the skies cleared way for sunshine. Despite the last minute sunshine the parking area (really it is nothing more than a bicycle path) was still very soggy and muddy. Some men and women were dressed in formal attire. Most of the women in attendance wore high heel shoes. Air Force Honor Guard members were in their dress uniforms. It was difficult to find a parking spot (there are no parking spaces) near the burial grounds that would not somehow cause you to traverse mud or a puddle of water to get to the service.
The memorial service in November was to honor Airman First Class Ryan Matthews. Ryan is the son of my good friends Jerry and Chrissy Matthews. My wife, Frances, was one of the mourners attending the service for Ryan. She too was in heels. I helped her navigate through the mud and around puddles. She was forced to park in a muddy area. There is no paved parking in that area. It was a dismal sight on a very dismal occasion. During the service, mourners were forced to stand on the soggy grounds of the cemetery. Some ended up standing on marble grave markers.
The second memorial service was to honor Petty Officer 3rd Class David Mudge. I provided a law enforcement escort in a marked sheriff’s car for PO3 Mudge and his family to the Roseburg National Cemetery. This particular memorial service illustrated the challenges that our Patriot Guard had in navigating through the parking lot. I can’t say enough good things about our local Patriot Guard chapter. They are the shining leather example of what respect and patriotism is all about. They have been a source of healing comfort to mourning family members.
Frances loves a challenge. She also loves challenging other people, including me. While I was escorting Frances from Ryan Matthews’ service through the mess of mud and water she said, “Why don’t you do something about this?”
After she posed the question I immediately thought this would be a great community project. Prior to participating in the Ford Institute Leadership Program (FILP) I would have asked myself the question, “Why don’t THEY do something about this parking lot?”
After talking the project over with Frances and hearing her ideas, I approached Nikki Messenger, the Public Works Director for the City of Roseburg. She is also a participant in the Ford Institute Leadership Program. Nikki had already started working to improve the parking area at the Roseburg National Cemetery by partnering with Douglas County to provide some rock for the area. Nikki has agreed to partner with me to work on the project.
I talked with Roseburg City Manager Eric Swanson about the project and he told me it was a something that he has wanted to see addressed for some time. He encouraged me to pursue the project with gusto.
And pursue it we will! Thanks for visiting this site and getting involved.
Sincerely,
Jim Burge