Ken MacTiernan
Veteran
Hello,
I am writing to you today to inform you of an injustice to those who
unselfishly spent their careers forging aviation's future. This future would
lead aviation onto many breath taking achievements. The injustice I am
speaking about is the placing of a Space Shuttle model in front of the
Portal of Folded Wings which is a "Shrine to Aviation". It is also on the
National Register of Historic Places by the U. S. Department of Interior.
This Portal is also the resting place for Charles E. Taylor, aviation's
first Aircraft Mechanic. Mr. Taylor is surrounded by other pioneers of
aviation, all of whom deserve the respect their careers have earned them.
The model of the Space Shuttle was placed where a rose garden once
welcomed visitors to the Portal. The below e-mail is from Giacinta Bradley
Koontz, aviation historian and was also the Director of The Portal. Her
request is not a monumental task, nor is it cost prohibitive. She is simply
asking for the model to be placed elsewhere. I have attached my letter
voicing the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Association's request to have
the owners and manager of the cemetery to listen to Gia's concern; reinstate
the rose garden and remove the Space Shuttle model and place it some place
else.
I know it seems as if there is always a matter of importance that
warrants letters to be written and it can be "burdensome". But that is why
they are important. The men and women resting underneath this beautiful
building can not write letters on their own behalf. It is up to us, the
living, to make sure we not only "Remember the Past" but to also respect it.
I would therefore like to ask that everyone reading this e-mail to either
write or call the contacts for the Manager and owner of the cemetery listed
on the attached "shuttleportal.doc". Thank you for any support that you can
lend. Sincerely, Kenneth MacTiernan Director AMTA
> Dear Friends,
>
> I need your help to convince the owners of the Portal that the majority of
> us wish to move the shuttle model elsewhere so that the original view to
> the structure is restored. The Portal is a "Shrine to Aviation," so named
> by its founders in 1953. It is not a "Shrine to Space."
>
> On July 5, 2007, I wrote a lengthy and reasonable request to the
> management of PB Valhalla to relocate the shuttle elsewhere in the park.
> I sited many reasons and suggested locations including that which would
> make the shuttle a separate and distinctive monument to the Space Age
> instead of adding it to the existing Portal site. Their response came by
> email, and I followed up with a telephone conversation with the park
> manager, Mr. Jorge Ferriera.
>
> SCI (the parent corporation) and PB Valhalla have admitted they acted
> without consideration for public opinion so that they could quickly take
> the unsightly model off the landscape, which had been laying in pieces on
> the ground for months. The new manager had no knowledge of the Portal's
> past, nor did he seek professional recommendations. Rather, they acted
> upon the sole request of a few people, with a personal agenda.
>
> The cemetery's manager replied that they refuse to relocate the shuttle
> model.
>
> However, I believe that they will comply and move the shuttle elsewhere if
> they receive requests other than my own.
>
> I encourage you to forward this email to your friends and associates.
>
> If you have any credentials such as experience in museum display, as a
> professional historian, or architect, or if you have a family member
> buried there as I do , or if you in any way have strong personal feelings
> about this (aesthetic or historic) please add your own remarks to the
> attached messages to SCI and PB Valhalla. Their contact information
> included is (both snail mail and email).
>
> I can't do this alone - I've tried! But I won't give up. I'm sending a
> Press Release to the local papers and hope to raise community interest, if
> not political pressure!
>
> If you have not seen the Portal in person, you can view its intended and
> original front view on my web site: www.portalofthefoldedwings.com or
> www.harrietquimby.org (menu option "NRHP")
>
> Help!
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Clear skies,
> Gia
> Attached: Portal photos: 2007 (with shuttle)
> Shuttle at Portal (YOUR request letter)
>
SCI Corporation
Phil Jackson, Sr. VP and Director of Marketing
1929 Allen Parkway
Houston TX 77219
(713) 525-9739
e-mail [email protected]
Jorge Ferrier, General Manager
Pierce Brothers Valhalla
10621 Victory Blvd.
North Hollywood CA 91606
(800) 762-7200
(818) 763-9121
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am writing to you today to inform you of an injustice to those who
unselfishly spent their careers forging aviation's future. This future would
lead aviation onto many breath taking achievements. The injustice I am
speaking about is the placing of a Space Shuttle model in front of the
Portal of Folded Wings which is a "Shrine to Aviation". It is also on the
National Register of Historic Places by the U. S. Department of Interior.
This Portal is also the resting place for Charles E. Taylor, aviation's
first Aircraft Mechanic. Mr. Taylor is surrounded by other pioneers of
aviation, all of whom deserve the respect their careers have earned them.
The model of the Space Shuttle was placed where a rose garden once
welcomed visitors to the Portal. The below e-mail is from Giacinta Bradley
Koontz, aviation historian and was also the Director of The Portal. Her
request is not a monumental task, nor is it cost prohibitive. She is simply
asking for the model to be placed elsewhere. I have attached my letter
voicing the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Association's request to have
the owners and manager of the cemetery to listen to Gia's concern; reinstate
the rose garden and remove the Space Shuttle model and place it some place
else.
I know it seems as if there is always a matter of importance that
warrants letters to be written and it can be "burdensome". But that is why
they are important. The men and women resting underneath this beautiful
building can not write letters on their own behalf. It is up to us, the
living, to make sure we not only "Remember the Past" but to also respect it.
I would therefore like to ask that everyone reading this e-mail to either
write or call the contacts for the Manager and owner of the cemetery listed
on the attached "shuttleportal.doc". Thank you for any support that you can
lend. Sincerely, Kenneth MacTiernan Director AMTA
> Dear Friends,
>
> I need your help to convince the owners of the Portal that the majority of
> us wish to move the shuttle model elsewhere so that the original view to
> the structure is restored. The Portal is a "Shrine to Aviation," so named
> by its founders in 1953. It is not a "Shrine to Space."
>
> On July 5, 2007, I wrote a lengthy and reasonable request to the
> management of PB Valhalla to relocate the shuttle elsewhere in the park.
> I sited many reasons and suggested locations including that which would
> make the shuttle a separate and distinctive monument to the Space Age
> instead of adding it to the existing Portal site. Their response came by
> email, and I followed up with a telephone conversation with the park
> manager, Mr. Jorge Ferriera.
>
> SCI (the parent corporation) and PB Valhalla have admitted they acted
> without consideration for public opinion so that they could quickly take
> the unsightly model off the landscape, which had been laying in pieces on
> the ground for months. The new manager had no knowledge of the Portal's
> past, nor did he seek professional recommendations. Rather, they acted
> upon the sole request of a few people, with a personal agenda.
>
> The cemetery's manager replied that they refuse to relocate the shuttle
> model.
>
> However, I believe that they will comply and move the shuttle elsewhere if
> they receive requests other than my own.
>
> I encourage you to forward this email to your friends and associates.
>
> If you have any credentials such as experience in museum display, as a
> professional historian, or architect, or if you have a family member
> buried there as I do , or if you in any way have strong personal feelings
> about this (aesthetic or historic) please add your own remarks to the
> attached messages to SCI and PB Valhalla. Their contact information
> included is (both snail mail and email).
>
> I can't do this alone - I've tried! But I won't give up. I'm sending a
> Press Release to the local papers and hope to raise community interest, if
> not political pressure!
>
> If you have not seen the Portal in person, you can view its intended and
> original front view on my web site: www.portalofthefoldedwings.com or
> www.harrietquimby.org (menu option "NRHP")
>
> Help!
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Clear skies,
> Gia
> Attached: Portal photos: 2007 (with shuttle)
> Shuttle at Portal (YOUR request letter)
>
SCI Corporation
Phil Jackson, Sr. VP and Director of Marketing
1929 Allen Parkway
Houston TX 77219
(713) 525-9739
e-mail [email protected]
Jorge Ferrier, General Manager
Pierce Brothers Valhalla
10621 Victory Blvd.
North Hollywood CA 91606
(800) 762-7200
(818) 763-9121
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
