Gen. 'Chappie' James Memorial Foundation receives $50K donation to finish memorial plaza

As construction of the Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Bridge draws to a finish, a $50,000 check was presented to the four-star general's memorial foundation Friday to erect a flag and flag post in the soon-to-be-constructed memorial plaza.

Montway Auto Transport CEO Tom Gartland presented the check to the Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Memorial Foundation as a way to support the initiative to honor the country's first African-American four-star general.

"The request was for the flag and the flagpole in the plaza, which we thought was an outstanding way to represent the United State of America and to support this initiative in Pensacola for Gen. James," Gartland said during the presentation at the Chappie James Museum of Pensacola. "It's simply an outstanding opportunity to support an American hero here in the state of Florida."

One of James's grandchildren, Frank Berry, attended the presentation and told the News Journal that he's delighted to see his grandfather recognized in Pensacola, even though he can't make it to the museum as often as he would like since he also is a pilot.

"As a member of the James family, we're all delighted to see the community come together and get the support they need for the recognition of my grandfather," Berry told the News Journal. "I wish I had gotten out here earlier to see this because it's really neat to see how the community has come together and backed all this."

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When will memorial construction begin?

Chairman of the General Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Memorial Foundation, Cris Dosev, said the plan is to break ground for the memorial "sometime around May 1."

"The project should take about 90 to 120 days based on weather delays and accounting for (inclement) weather," Dosev said.

Lead time for materials to arrive is Dosev's biggest concern.

"There's lead times, specifically for steel," the chairman said. "The rebar is about a 90-day lead time."

Along with the flag and flagpole, a restored F-4 Phantom II jet will sit atop the memorial as recognition of the aircraft James flew 78 combat missions in while deployed in Vietnam as the vice commander of the U.S. Air Force Eighth Tactical Fighter Wing.

The plaza will sit at the base of the new Pensacola Bay Bridge, renamed the Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Bridge after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a 2020 bill designating the new name, and will allow people driving into Pensacola to see the memorial.

"I would like to thank Montway and their CEO Tom Gartland for their very generous contribution in recognizing Gen. James's legacy and what he's done not only for our community but for our country," Dosev said. "I'm hoping that everybody in this community will rally around that flag and bring this dream to fruition."

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Gen. Daniel 'Chappie' James Foundation gets $50K for memorial plaza