6th Grader Sets Example of Honor and Support


support W


hen 11-year-old Gabe Jones ran in the Soldier Mara- thon, his race bib carried the name of Marine Lance


Corporal Niall Coti-Sears, who gave his life while serving in Afghanistan. Gabe wanted to do more to pay tribute to the warrior he’d never met, so he raised $250 from friends, class- mates and family members to buy a paver honoring Coti-Sears on Heritage Walk. Gabe’s tribute is one of more than 4,000 that now line the flag-lined walkway.


Among the other programs that help support the museum is the new Premier Partners program. Aflac, TSYS and Global Payments each made donations of $25,000 in 2012, and in return received recognition at events throughout the year.


Thanks in part to a friendly competition between two dedi- cated museum supporters, the annual dues-paying 1775 Society grew to include 216 members in 2012. Each contributes at least $1,000 a year to support museum operations. Fifteen people


renewed their memberships at higher levels: seven at $2,500, five at $5,000 and three at $10,000.


The 1775 Society’s signature event is the annual fund raising gala and silent auction. This past year, 355 people danced and dined at “Benning Beginnings,” a salute to the enduring rela- tionship between Columbus and Fort Benning. The event raised more than $93,000 for the museum.


Retired General Officers continued to sign up for the exclusive Graybeard Society by making a donation of at least $1,775. A plaque carrying all 137 members’ names was unveiled in September.


And at the door, visitors opened up their wallets to show their appreciation both for the museum and the Soldiers whose stories are told here. The average donation per person increased 26 percent over 2011. More than $403,000 was dropped in NIM donation boxes during 2012.


SAD GOODBYES During 2012, the Foundation lost many friends; two of the most notable were CSM (Ret) Basil Plumley and Judge Aaron Cohn. Both were great Soldiers, dedicated supporters and heroes in their communities.


REFLECTIONS OF VIETNAM The museum is rich with volunteers who have actually lived the history they tell visitors about. Several of them shared their stories of service in Vietnam with college students studying the war.


CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMY Gen. Ray Odierno stopped to meet a new graduate’s baby during his visit to the museum. Odierno commended the museum for educating families about the critical jobs their loved ones hold.


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