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April 16th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda One of Sergeant Davis’s buddies, Marine Randy Leedom, visited Macon a few years ago. When he saw the overgrown cemetery and the sad state of the Davis family plot, he alerted the 1/5 Vietnam Veterans. They agreed to do everything in their power to work with MCPC and right this terrible wrong. Since learning of the overall condition of the cemetery through Randy, one of those who is alive today because of Sergeant Davis’s selfless act, volunteers from the 1/5 Vietnam Veterans and many other veterans groups, active duty military groups and civic organizations in the Macon area have regularly attended work parties to clean up the Davis Family plot and the surrounding area. Those groups include:
- The 1/5 Vietnam Veterans Unit Chapter of the 1st Marine Division Association;
- The Montford Point Marine Association
- Bravo Company, 4th Marine Recon Battalion
- Marine Aircraft Group 49 (Detachment A)
- Middle Georgia Detachment #970, Marine Corps League
- Westside High School Junior ROTC
- Students from Mercer University and Wesleyan College
- Members of First Presbyterian Church and Ingleside Baptist Church, and
- The family and friends of Sergeant Rodney M. Davis
Over the past several years, residents of Macon and others have attended work parties, twice a month, to help restore Linwood Cemetery. Because our membership is spread out across the country and thus traveling to Macon is somewhatof a challenge, members of the 1/5 Vietnam Veterans have committed to leading two work parties a year, typically scheduled for April and October.
Much progress has been made, but there is much more to be done.
An Idea is Born!
During a work party in April, 2011, volunteers gathered once again in Linwood Cemetery to continue this work. As usual, the representatives of the 1/5 Vietnam Veterans showed up early and started clearing weeds from the Davis Family plot, a job becoming easier with each visit. Happily, this time there were few weeds to worry about, and they were immediately dispatched.
Proposed Memorial Rendering
After ensuring that Sergeant Davis’s grave was neat and clean, we turned our attention to the big wooden sign that stands at the top of a bluff overlooking the I-75 freeway. This big sign, painted in the scarlet and gold of the Marine Corps, has seen better days. The two 6” x 6” posts that the sign is mounted on are still sturdy, but the painted plywood sign (4’ x 6’) itself has badly deteriorated over the years.
As always, Alice Jackson and her people gathered all the volunteers together and gave us an overview of the progress they have made since our last work party, and pointed out a few of their priority areas. Each group then scattered and focused in a particular part of the cemetery. Our group and the recon Marines focused on the Sgt. Davis gravesite, the flag pole and the sign/ lighting, and the surrounding area. Today, this small plot of ground looks about as good as it can with just a monthly clean-up; it looks okay, but we all know that it could and should be much, much better. As we worked, we considered that assessment and the challenge of maintaining the wooden sign, which requires a complete renovation every year.
Thus was born the idea to build the “Sergeant Rodney M. Davis Medal of Honor Memorial Monument.”
Rather than renovating the wooden sign each year, the sign will be torn down and replaced with a permanent granite memorial monument commemorating Sergeant Davis’s heroism. The monument itself will require no significant upkeep and will provide a memorial worthy of the U.S. Marine whose memory we honor.
How to Build a Monument
This project’s goal is to raise the necessary funds to commission a suitable and permanent memorial monument for Sergeant Rodney M. Davis, USMC – Medal of Honor, a true American hero.
This project will be planned, organized and completed in “phases,” as follows:
Phase 1: Design, build and install the memorial monument.
Pha se 2: Dedicate and Memorialize Sergeant Davis – Memorial Service and Banquet. We plan to host the U. S. Marines whose lives Rodney saved at this event – target date is 6 September 2012.
Pha se 3: Initiate and administer a Scholarship Program with funds raised in excess of what is necessary to complete phases 1 and 2, to benefit high school students in Macon.
The 1/5 Vietnam Veterans Unit Chapter of the 1st Marine Division Association is “taking point” on this project, by providing project planning, fund raising and marketing support capabilities, along with volunteer and professional labor. We intend to support this project by making individual and organizational donations, by leading the work task efforts under the guidance and approval of the Macon Cemetery Preservation Corporation, and utilizing our “national network of members” to reach out to other individuals and businesses and organizations in communities across the country. All “Stakeholders” mentioned in this Project Plan include all those who have contributed in this effort to date as well as others who decide to join our cause.
A Challenge to Help Us Right this Wrong!
Project Funds Required:
Phase 1: Preliminary estimates indicate that the creation and installation of the memorial monument, based on Design Concept we have selected, will cost approximately $50,000.00. In addition, the costs of installing the foundation and installing new lighting will be approximately $ 5,000.00. Finally, we have promised the MCPC to set up a fund, in the amount of $2,000.00 which will cover ongoing maintenance costs. Total cost of Phase 1 is estimated not to exceed $60,000.00.
Phase 2: Preliminary estimates indicate that hosting the U.S. Marines who “survived” the enemy grenade attack that Sergeant Davis defied, and their families, as well as the Davis Family and the MCPC volunteers at the memorial dedication ceremony and banquet will cost approximately $10,000.00. All other members of the 1/5 Vietnam Veterans, members of the supporting organizations, and friends and family of Sergeant Davis will be invited to attend the memorial dedication and the commemoration banquet to honor Sergeant Davis. Local citizens, businesses and organizations will be invited to attend the banquet at their own cost. All proceeds from the banquet will go to any unpaid costs of the memorial monument, and then into the Sergeant Rodney M. Davis,USMC (MOH) Scholarship Program. The total cost of Phase 2 is estimated not to exceed $10,000.00.
Rodney M. Davis Scholarship Program
Phase 3: Students attending Rodney’s high school in Macon,GA., will compete for this $1,000 per year scholarship by writing a 500-word essay on “Leadership Courage.” All funds received for this project in excess of that required to build and install the memorial monument and conduct the dedication and commemoration event will be placed in a savings account for the scholarship fund. A committee comprised of several 1/5 Vietnam Veterans and several teachers and leaders at the Macon high school, will manage the fund and select the recipients of the scholarship award each year.
Project Fund-Raising Goal: $ 75,000.00
We are seeking donations from individuals, businesses and organizations to help us fund this project. We would appreciate any size donation, but we are also offering special opportunities for recognition to those who make major donations.
Major Donation Categories.
We Are Seeking:
(1) Navy Cross Donor – $ 25,000,00 This donor will be invited to attend and participate in the memorial monumentdedication and commemoration banquet (10 seats) and will be given the “inside back cover” of the programs for a memorial commemorative message.
(5) Silver Star Donors – $ 5,000.00 ea. These donors will be invited to attend the memorial monument dedication and commemoration banquet (4 seats), and will be given a quarter-page space in the programs for a brief memorial commemoration message.
(50) Bronze Star Donors – $ 500.00 ea. These donors will be invited to attend the memorial monument dedication and commemoration banquet (2 seats), and will be named in the programs.
Rodney M. Davis Memorial Monument DONATIONS!
Name, Company / Organization
Address
City, ST Zip
Phone
Donation Amount
Checks payable to: 1/5 Vietnam Veterans For – Sgt. Davis Monument FundMail to:
P. O. Box 1117 Flat Rock, NC 28731
Please contact me to discuss a Navy Cross,Silver Star, or Bronze Star Donation.
The 1/5 Vietnam Veterans Unit Chapter of the 1st Marine Division Association is a 501 (c) 19 non-profi t charitableorganization. All donations made to support this special project are tax deductible up to the limits allowed by law.
Your donation will be placed in a charitable trust administered by the corporate attorney representing the 1/5 Vietnam Veterans. If for any reason this memorialmonument is not built, all donations will be returned.
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