National Ranger Memorial Foundation

RANGER CHECKPOINT

August 2024

Editor: Molly Stringham

A Message from the Chairman:

Fellow Rangers –

I hope everyone has been able to get out and enjoy some of the summer weather. It’s time for another edition of the Ranger Checkpoint. Lots of great information is here about your Ranger Memorial Foundation’s activities. Two items I specifically want to highlight.

First, we’ve hired Blair Brown as the full-time Foundation Executive Director. This is great news for our foundation. In this capacity he is responsible for the day-to-day management of the foundation and its interests. Blair’s been a long time, valuable member of the team, but we are really excited about him coming on full time.

Second, on 4 October, your Ranger Memorial Foundation in a well-coordinated, public ceremony is presenting four pavers to the Drummer Boy Museum in Andersonville, Georgia for display. These Civil War era pavers were previously removed from the Ranger Memorial due to their affiliation with the Confederacy. Thanks to Directors Max Mullen and Mike Kelso, who are coordinating the ceremony, these pavers will reside in what I believe is an appropriate location for people to see. All Rangers are invited to attend the ceremony.

I also look forward to seeing many Rangers at the Maneuver Warfighting Conference at Fort Moore, 10-12 September. Please remember to stop by your Ranger Memorial and see the improvements we’ve made.

Thank you for all you have and continue to do for the Ranger community.

Rangers Lead the Way!

Larry Burris

Brigadier General, US Army (Retired)

A Message from the Vice President/Executive Director:

Rangers & Friends of the Rangers –

Ashley and I hope this message finds you well and in good health! I am pleased to share some important updates with you regarding the National Ranger Memorial Foundation (NRMF).

1. Engraving: Over 40 stones, including the 2024 RHOF names, were successfully engraved in April and June 2024. The NRMF has decided to switch to a local, family-owned engraving company, which will allow us to engrave more frequently at the Ranger Memorial. We anticipate engraving at least every quarter, if not more often, compared to the previous schedule of one or two times a year. This change will also reduce our costs while maintaining the quality you expect. The next engraving is scheduled for September, with over 26 stones expected to be completed. To purchase a stone for yourself, relative, or Ranger buddy, orders can be placed at rangermemorial.org/stone.

2. Ranger Memorial Maintenance: The NRMF is committed to maintaining the Ranger Memorial using our own funds. This includes landscaping, lighting, painting, and cleaning, which are essential to preserve the memorial's integrity. If you notice anything that requires attention, please contact us at blair@rangermemorial.org. Your donations are crucial in helping us fulfill our mission of maintaining this beautiful monument. Please consider contributing $19.00 monthly to the National Ranger Memorial Foundation at rangermemorial.org/donate.

3. Stone Locator: A new stone locator, equipped with a QR code, will be installed at the Ranger Memorial in September. This feature will enable visitors to quickly locate stones using their mobile devices.

4. Revenue: Stone sales have slowed after Father's Day and Ranger Rendezvous but are expected to pick up in the Fall. Donations have remained steady, with a growing number of supporters opting for recurring monthly donations through our website. Merchandise sales, particularly the new challenge coin featuring Rogers, Mosby, Grange, Merrill, and Darby, have been robust. If you haven't purchased one yet, I highly recommend doing so before they run out.

Thank you for your continued support and for taking the time to review this information.

Blair Brown

The National Ranger Memorial now has a vendor space set up outside of the Ft. Moore Exchange. You can place orders for desktop replica stones, commemorative framed stones, and Ranger Memorial coins. Check us out in-store or place your orders thru our website: rangermemorial.org/frames-coins

NRMF Directors Mike Kelso and Max Mullen, pictured above with Ms. Cynthia StormCaller, met with Andersonville, GA City Council members earlier this month to discuss presenting replicas of the Ranger Memorial pavers of John S. Mosby and brothers George W. and Jackson H. Bowman to the historic Drummer Boy Museum there.

If you're in the area, we hope you'll join us at 1:00 pm on October 4th at the Drummer Boy Museum for the presentation ceremony. Guests can further enjoy a tour of the museum, historical re-enactments throughout the day, and a visit to the Andersonville historic prison site. There are numerous hotels in the Americus, GA area for overnight accommodations.

Many thanks to our newest corporate sponsor, Gulf Coast Western.

If your business is interested in supporting the National Ranger Memorial in its mission, please contact VP Blair Brown at Blair@RangerMemorial.org

Check out the flyers below for information on events in our Ranger communities. Reach out to the POC on the announcements or individual organizations for more details. Anything going on in your area? We'll do our best to announce it in the next Ranger Checkpoint. Send details to: Blair@RangerMemorial.org or Molly@RangerMemorial.org

Click Here to Register on the Florabama Site

TAG US on your social media posts @nationalrangermemorial, or send pictures to our Social Media Director Max Mullen, Max@RangerMemorial.org.

Our mission at the National Ranger Memorial Foundation is clear – to honor and support Rangers and their families. Through the establishment and preservation of the National Ranger Monument, we aim to provide a tangible testament to the Rangers’ sacrifices and contributions. And our commitment extends beyond the monument itself; we strive to support Rangers and their families in other ways, including scholarships and other support initiatives. We operate solely on donations, so please consider making a tax-deductible donation of $19 per month today at

rangermemorial.org/scholarship & preservation-fund

Additionally, our legal battle to restore John S. Mosby's name to the Ranger Hall of Fame continues. If you'd like to support the Foundation in this ongoing effort, donate to our Gray Ghost Campaign at

rangermemorial.org/gray-ghost