Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation, Inc.

(Left to Right) Colonel Joe Kittinger, CFVMPF Board Member, signing his book, “Come Up and Get Me” for Joe Battle, Associate VA Medical Center Director

 “Come Up and Get Me” is a long-awaited autobiography of Colonel Joe Kittinger written by Joe Kittinger and Craig Ryan with a Foreward by Neil Armstrong.  Joe tells of his many experiences including his being a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war.  He set several ballooning distance records, including the first solo crossing of the Atlantic in 1984, but his proudest moment remains his free fall from 102,800 feet during which he achieved a speed of 614 miles per hour.  

(Left to Right)  BG Steve Seay. Special Guest at the March CFVMPF Meeting and Jerry Pierce, CFVMPF President

Joe Miller, Photographer

Starling Family Honors Their Mom and the Fallen With
$50,000 Matching Gift to Veterans Memorial Campaign

Jack Starling, Starling Chevy-Cadillac General Manager, presenting $ 50,000 matching grant commitment to Honorary Campaign Chairman Lt. General Jay Garner. 

(left to right)  Lt. General Jay Garner, Grace Tucker Starling, Jack Starling, and Jerry E Pierce, President of CFVMPF.

Lt. General Jay Garner presenting a personal gift of $1,000 as the first gift toward the Starling Family $ 50,000 matching grant. 

(left to right) Lt. General Jay Garner, Grace Tucker Starling, Alan C Starling, President, Starling Chevrolet and Jerry E Pierce, Pres.Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation, Inc. (CFVMPF).

The Starling Family

(pictured left to right) 

Front Row…Col. Christopher Starling, USMC and wife Suzanne, LTG Jay Garner, Grace Starling, Jack Starling, Jerry Pierce, and  Emma Starling.

Second Row…Carroll Starling, retired Navy chaplain, Bruce Starling, retired Army JAG, Alan and Tilly Starling, Walker Starling, Andrew Starling, Michael and Susanne Mayon. 

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Honorary Chair of the capital campaign Lt. General Jay Garner accepted a pledge on March 5^th to construct and endow a Memorial at Lake Nona to those who served in the uniform of their country and did not return home to Central Florida.  In honor of Grace Starling the Starling family has pledged a contribution of $50,000.  This pledge will be used to match contributions to the campaign of $1,000 or more up to $50,000.

“We are delighted for this most generous contribution, not only does this give the campaign momentum, it provides an incentive for others to give,” said General Garner who headed Iraq’s Reconstruction under President George W. Bush and is a resident of Windermere.

On the occasion of Grace Tucker Starling’s 95^th birthday celebration, she was thrilled to learn about the Veteran’s Memorial Gift in her honor.  “As a family of veterans it touched our hearts when we learned about this Memorial,” said her grandson Jack Starling.  He noted that in his grandmother’s lifetime, her husband, and two brothers served in World War II, and all three of her sons served in the Vietnam Era.  Walker Starling, Jack’s brother, added that currently two of their cousins, Colonel Christopher Starling and Lieutenant Colonel Michael Starling, both Marines, were veterans of the Persian Gulf Conflict and are still serving adding that “just a few weeks ago, Mike was in Cairo.”

Jerry Pierce, President of the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation noted that “the Starling Matching Gift Program comes on the heels of a $50,000 commitment from the Central Florida Auto Dealers Association of which the Starling Group is a member and the Starling’s have given twice, as they are members of the Association as well.  We will do all we can to encourage others to take advantage of this opportunity to have their gift doubled with the Starling Match,” said Pierce.

Jerry Pierce, CFVMPF President, made a presentation to the Winter Park Rotary Club luncheon on March 7^th.   There were approximately 110 present which included many community leaders.  The presentation was well received and questions were answered regarding the status of the VA Medical Center and how the names would be determined for the monuments.
The program chairman commented that we had the full attention of members and gave an invitation for a future presentation to update everyone on our progress.

Jerry Pierce, President CFVMPF, made an informative presentation on February 23rd at the luncheon meeting of the Meridian Club in Winter Park.  It was attended by 35 members who engage in philantropic activities.

Jerry Pierce,  CFVMPF President,  made a presentation at the regular monthly meeting of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 17-11 D7 on February 19th.   All Veterans present were recognized and honored for their military service.   Jerry stated that those who paid the ulitmate sacrifice from the six counties in Central Florida will be recognized at the Memorial Park honoring them which will be built adjacent to the new VA Medical Center at Lake Nona.   Billy Enfinger,  member of  Flotiall 17-11 D7 of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, assisted in the presentation.

Windermere Resident, Retired General Garner
Serving as Honorary Chair of Memorial to Fallen

The Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation announced that Windermere resident,  retired General Jay Garner, a highly decorated retired Lt. General of the Army, has agreed to serve as Honorary Chairman of the $3 million capital campaign to build and endow the memorial adjacent to the Veterans Hospital at the Medical City, Lake Nona,

 “I am deeply honored to serve as Honorary Chairman of this Campaign and will do whatever is required to provide a suitable memorial to the fallen from the six county region of Central Florida who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our freedom”, said Garner.

General Garner was enlisted by President Bush to lead the reconstruction of Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein. 

To date the campaign has raised over $300,000 toward its $1.5 million phase one construction goal in just the few months it has been underway, according to Jerry Pierce, Foundation Chair.  The campaign has a phase two goal of $1.5 million for an endowment for the upkeep of the memorial according to Pierce.

The memorial will honor the fallen from Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties, who served in the uniform of our country and never returned.  The memorial’s lake front setting will provide a serene and healing environment for the families of the fallen as they struggle with their loss. Construction of the memorial is scheduled to begin late Fall of 2011.

CENTRAL FLORIDA VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK FOUNDATION TO SHOWCASE MEMORIAL AND VA HOSPITAL MODEL AT CENTRAL FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW NOVEMBER 25-28

ORLANDO, Fla. – (October 29, 2010) The Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation, Inc. (CFVMPF) announced today a collaboration with the Central Florida Auto Dealers Association (CFADA) to raise awareness for the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park at Lake Nona. To raise awareness of the need for funding, a scale model of the proposed memorial park and VA hospital will be on display at the upcoming Central Florida International Auto Show from Thursday, November 25 (Thanksgiving Day) through Sunday, November 28, at the Orange County Convention Center.

“The foundation’s goal is to create a lasting memorial to those in the six county region of Central Florida who answered our country’s call to duty and never came home,” said CFVMPF President Jerry Pierce. “To accomplish this goal, we need to expose as many residents, including the more than 400,000 veterans in Central Florida, to the project and having a display at the popular Central Florida International Auto Show will certainly help. We are most grateful to the CFADA for this opportunity.”

Once complete, the permanent memorial will be located next to the new VA Hospital, near UCF Medical Center and will honor the approximately 1,100 soldiers who left the six county region of Central Florida that encompasses Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties and never returned. The capital campaign was recently given a grant from the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation to retain contract staff and fund raising counsel.

“If there was ever a right time to do the right thing for those who fought and died for our freedom, it is now,” said CFADA Executive Vice President Barbara Miller. “Our dealers are honored to be a part of this effort to remember and honor the fallen. In addition to the exposure we will provide the project at the auto show, many of our local dealers will also encourage support for the memorial in their ongoing individual advertising efforts.”

The Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization recognized by the IRS and registered with the state of Florida under the Solicitation of Contributions Act to seek gifts and grants from corporations, foundations and residents throughout Central Florida and in some cases nationally. More information is available at www.CFVMPF.org.

The Central Florida International Auto Show is presented by the Central Florida Auto Dealers Association, Inc., sponsored by The Orlando Sentinel and produced by Motor Trend Auto Shows, LLC, the nation’s largest auto show producer and part of Source Interlink Companies, Inc. The auto show will be open to the public Thursday, November 25 (Thanksgiving Day) through Sunday, November 28, at the Orange County Convention Center, located at 9800 International Drive, in Orlando. Parking is available in the convention center lots. The auto show is pleased to offer complimentary shuttle service to and from the convention center parking lots during all show hours.

Show hours are: Thursday, from noon to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission to the event is $9 for adults, $5 for military with ID, seniors, students with ID and $3 for children ages 7-12. Children ages six and younger are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Save time and money by purchasing E-tickets at www.AutoShowOrlando.com and receive a $2 discount off regular adult admission. Attendees will receive a free one-year subscription to Motor Trend magazine with each online ticket order or box office purchase. Additional information is available at www.AutoShowOrlando.com.

On September 25, 2010, Major General Douglas Metcalf, USAF, Ret. gave a presentation to the Central Florida Chapter, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).   He discussed in detail the Orange County Memorial Veterans  Park to be located at Lake Nona behind The New Orlando VA Medical Center.

The Chapter has made a donation and after the presentation it was agreed an additional donation would be made in 2011.  Attendees were also very interested and pleased with the presentation and it is anticipated several members will send in their private donations.

The Board of Directors of the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation, Inc. approved to contract with Jim Donovan, CEO of Donovan Management, Inc. (DMI) as a consultant for CFVMPF’s Capital Campaign. DMI provides consulting services related to fund raising management, prospect research, strategic planning, and training for organizations engaged in philanthropy.
They are the oldest, most experienced in-state firm and has served over 300 clients since 1986.