Encouraged by the International Midway Memorial Foundation (IMMF), the U.S. House of Representatives on July 16, 2016 passed a bill (supported by the American Legion) to prohibit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) from using any funding to demolish any further structures and buildings on Midway for one year. The amendment was introduced by Congressman John Duncan (TN). The IMMF is very appreciative to Congressman Duncan for his continuing support over the years for our efforts regarding Midway. This bill was prompted by the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report that USFWS has demolished seven historic buildings on Midway without notification to the proper designated interested parties, including the IMMF. The bill now goes to the Senate for its vote.
Senator Dan Sullivan (AK) is in the process of drafting a letter of support for the creation of a 75th anniversary commemorative stamp for the Battle of Midway. This is the first step toward the production of the stamp by the U.S. Postal Service. The IMMF is grateful to Senator Sullivan for his efforts on behalf of the veterans of the Battle of Midway.
Our newest member to the IMMF’s Board of Trustees, Dan Kennedy and I have met to discuss how we would promote the Battle of Midway in the city of Sarasota, Florida. One idea is to have the 2017 Memorial Day Parade in Sarasota dedicated to the Battle of Midway. The parade would end in downtown Sarasota and a ceremony would be held at the site of the larger – than – life statue of the “Sailor Kissing A Nurse in Times Square.” The guest speaker at the event will be your Chairman.
The aforementioned Dan Kennedy lives in Sarasota, Florida. He is the Founder and former Headmaster/CEO of Sarasota Military Academy. He is a board member of the Sons of the American Revolution; Chairman of Sarasota Academy of the Arts; Vice Chairman of the Sarasota Police Foundation Board; University of Kentucky Alumni Board; Sarasota Sister Cities and Chairman of the Joint Services Military Academy. Dan is a welcome addition to the Board of Trustees of the International Midway Memorial Foundation. Thank you, Dan. We look forward to working with you.
The Foundation has sent another letter to Midway’s Wildlife Manager, Bob Peyton and to Kevin Foerster, Regional Chief, Pacific Region requesting permission to land an aircraft on Midway in August 2017 to hold a 75th anniversary ceremony on the Battle of Midway. Copies of the letter were sent to Congressman Ken Calvert (CA), Chairman of the Interior and Environment House Subcommittee and to Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK), Chairwoman of the Senate Subcommittee on Interior and Environment and Related Agencies. Ken Foerster stated he would get back to me soon. You can download the letter by clicking here.
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration invited the Foundation an Nauticos to submit its opinion for search areas and targets in its upcoming investigations (2017) of deep-water environments in the Central Pacific.
Plans continue to be developed to search for the sunken Japanese carriers and U.S. aircraft involved in the Battle of Midway. We are hopeful that this project will be able to move forward in the near future.
The web site effort was developed and produced by Ryan Wanamaker and has greatly enhanced the value and content of the web site.
I have been invited to present a Battle of Midway lecture to the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Society of Former Agents of the FBI on October 17th at the Marina Jack restaurant in Sarasota. This lecture is part of the effort to make Sarasota an epicenter for Battle of Midway Commemorative activities. The opportunity to give this lecture is the result of the efforts of Dan Kennedy.
Chris and I wish everyone a happy fall.
Written By:
Chairman and Founder, IMMF
Written By:
Vice President and Chairman, IMMF
