Page 10 - The History of Veterans at Highland Springs

they are to be installed. When The Brick Man notifies Chris Churchwell that the bricks are ready, the landscape contractor BrightView installs the engraved bricks and removes the blank ones for storage and future use. BrightView also maintains the grounds and the $50 charged per brick covers all costs. The 2020 Brick Drive was very successful. Seventy-seven bricks were purchased representing almost a 30% increase over the bricks already in place.
The first meeting with staff was on July 20, 2016 and acquisition of land was discussed with Executive Director Matt Neville. At first, a small plot was offered but when so many bricks were sold, a larger plot was generously donated by Highland Springs. Although the Veterans Committee represented the entire community, it was not part of RAC or Resident Life but Lana
Van Giesen, then Manager of Resident Life, became instrumental as liaison between the Veterans and staff, arranging the land location and bench wanted by the Veterans. She also worked closely with the group and helped with advice, ideas, and gave other assistance. Because of that she was the first non-resident who has a brick placement for her father, an Army medic, in The Veterans Memorial Park. Now Daniel Vasquez, a Marine Veteran who has been with Highland Springs security for more than five years, has an installed brick.
The flags have their own history. At the beginning, there were small flags on the site, but they were loved far too well by squirrels that chewed on them. Pete Higa, who was involved with the flag display from the beginning, said the squirrels simply loved the USA colors! He and Ron Genter came up with a urine-based spray, but it only worked partially. Plans were then made and developed for the full-size tall U.S. flag with a spotlight that took some time to be approved, but the flag was squirrel-free. Highland Springs paid for this and Don’t Get Shocked Electric installed it. The Veterans paid for the flags and poles and electrical work and Highland Springs paid for the wall surrounding the flags.
Now there are flags representing each military service branch on each side of the U.S. Flag. There is even a Flag for the U.S. Space Force, the newest uni- formed service, only recently approved on 12/20/2019. It was added in the proper place as the “junior” service but ahead of the Coast Guard Flag
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