Chapter Officers & contacts - please distribute: Memorial will be on be-half of all Veterans ( the way Msgt. Jack C. Gravett ,USMC Retired ) desired. And to Honor the life and service of this dedicated Marine. 

Ceremony will be held at Memorial Park at 11:30 AM Sat. , 16, June 2007

Stage at American Legion Post 05 , 2921 W. 12th Ave, Emporia, Ks at 10:30 AM

( directions - exit 128 from 35 South, turn on Industrial street Dr. , turn West on 12th Ave )

AIS 11:00 AM for Memorial Park- Flags on Bikes

ALR 05 Norm Fields will be serving as RC - contact 620-342-8331

 

Dear Friends,

 

My father, MSGT Jack C. Gravatt (USMC, Ret.) died yesterday, June 7 at KU Medical Center. Dad was a veteran of both Korea and Vietnam, and was a disabled veteran. The cause of his death was both service-connected and combat-related. Dad had been suffering lately, fought a good fight, and his passing at this time was a blessing.

 

There will be no casket nor indoor funeral service per Dad's request and plans. Instead, we are planning a service on Saturday, June 16 at 11:30 a.m. in his hometown of Emporia, Kansas at the Veteran's Memorial Park,

 

Dad lived his life as a Marine, he retired after 21 years but never left. The Corps was his family and life. With that in mind, we are planning his memorial as a tribute to a fallen Marine. Though he didn't die on the battlefield, his life was cut short due to combat.   

 

On behalf of Mom and the rest of my family, I invite your participation at the Memorial. I was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division myself, and I appreciate what you are doing.

 

Emporia was the birthplace of Veteran's Day, and you will have a warm welcome here. At the same time, this will be a planned and very public event at which everyone is welcome. This park is situated right on the outskirts of town on one of the main highways coming into Emporia. Due to the military nature of this event and it's venue, we have discussed the possibility of someone or a group using it as a means by which to get publicity for a cause or simply screwing this up for us in general. We would be grateful for some assistance from fellow veterans and supporters in that respect.

 

Thanks very much for getting this under way and in advance for your participation.  Best regards,

James Gravatt