Auburn alum Marlon Blackwell to design Global War on Terrorism Memorial
The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation (GWOTMF) has selected Auburn alum Marlon Blackwell – class of 1980, to design and build the new memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Blackwell and his 25-member design firm were selected from a pool of 177 candidates to create the Global War on Terrorism Memorial. The project of a lifetime is not expected to be complete until 2027. “It’s very exciting, and it’s very daunting,” Blackwell told Auburn’s Neal Reid. “It’s quite an honor to be selected for this project, and I think if we go through this process in a thoughtful and diligent way, it will yield very positive results.” “We’re making a place, and this place is for people, for families, for folks from all walks of life to be able to come and pay respect and honor those who have sacrificed,” Blackwell said. “I think architecture has a way of creating an atmosphere of hope, and by getting us to reflect and turn inward and start to think outside our everyday lives. This is key to our mission.” When the opportunity first came up, Blackwell was not sure that he wanted the responsibility of it. “Initially, I didn’t want to be involved,” said Blackwell. “We’d never done anything like that, and it’s a lot to wrap your head around. Growing up in a military family, I just wasn’t sure.” Blackwell’s wife of 20 years, Ati Blackwell, completed and submitted the designer application. After the Blackwells were named finalists, his attitude changed. “Once they came back and said we were in the final five, I was like, ‘Oh my God! We’ve got to do this!’” he said. The Blackwells, along with the other finalists, presented to the GWOTMF. Their proposal was accepted, and the Blackwells were awarded the $110 million project. The memorial will be close to 23rd Street, Constitution Avenue, and Henry Bacon Drive. It will be near the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the National Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial. It will be located close to 23rd Street, Constitution Avenue, and Henry Bacon Drive in the nation’s capital. “It’s an amazing site,” Blackwell said. “It may be the last site to be developed on the National Mall. It’s very prominent and is not forested, which creates an even more interesting relationship with the Lincoln Memorial. The proximity to the other memorials will show how they could have connectivity among Blackwell comes from a military family. His father, William Earl Blackwell, was a U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant who served in the Vietnam War. War. His brother served in the U.S. Army and fought in Desert Storm. His stepbrother served in the Air Force National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. Blackwell’s great-uncle served in the U.S. Navy and was killed in action in World War II. “It felt close to home, coming from a long line of military folks,” Blackwell said. “We now have an all-volunteer military, and a lot of people sacrifice their lives in this conflict — both military and civilians. Others returned home and remain impacted, along with their families.” The Blackwells know that this is a great responsibility. “The bottom line is: How do you honor these people for their service in protecting our rights, freedoms, and values as a country?” Blackwell said. “Also, I think memorials — as the Vietnam War Memorial has proven — act as a way of healing, not only for individuals and families but for healing as a nation.” Blackwell applauded the Foundation and Design Advisory Council for their guidance on this project. “The people we’re working with in the Foundation are genuine and focused, and the project is apolitical, which is important,” Blackwell said. “The Foundation has already gone through all the governmental layers and secured a site, and that’s one thing I liked about the memorial. We have great partners in the Foundation.” Marlon Blackwell is a 1980 Auburn University graduate. Despite his busy schedule, Blackwell still enjoys attending football games with his son, Zain. He credits his experience at Auburn for much of his success. “I learned so much along the way from my instructors,” said Blackwell. “They really challenged me to challenge myself, which was probably the best thing they could’ve done. There was some tough love there, too, but my professors helped me build a foundation that I could always draw upon. It was really about trying to find purpose and meaning in every project that you do.” Blackwell taught at Auburn in 2009 as part of the Paul Rudolph Visiting Professorship. Blackwell serves as the E. Fay Jones Distinguished Professor at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas. This project is fully funded by private donations and will not rely on taxpayer dollars. Construction is expected to take between 18-24 months. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Miles College embarks on $25 million fundraising campaign to celebrate 125th anniversary
In celebration of its 125th anniversary, Miles College has kicked off phase two of a $125 million fundraising campaign. Over the past five years, President Bobbie Knight has secured $100 million for the campaign during a “silent” phase. The $25 million “public” phase of the comprehensive fundraising campaign and community development was announced today (Sept. 12) at the Clyde Williams Welcome Center on campus. The theme is “Come Grow with Us.” Mike Suco, president of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United, and Leroy Abraham, executive vice president and head of Community Affairs for Regions Bank, will serve as co-chairs. “It is our moral and spiritual responsibility to provide guidance and funding that will ensure the next 125 years of Miles College,” said Bishop Clarence Kelby Heath, chair of the board of trustees for Miles College. “We understand the pivotal role that our graduates have played in the social, economic, and business undertakings across our region and our country.” Miles was founded in 1898 by members of the Colored (now Christian) Methodist Episcopalian (CME) Church. In recognition of the anniversary, the campaign will seek investments in scholarships, buildings renovations, academic programs and community development, Knight said. “We are laser-focused on improving the student experience and executing an efficient growth strategy that positions Miles College for the future … and how we impact the growth of the region,” said Knight, a former executive at Alabama Power. Bobbie Knight is president of Miles College. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr. / The Birmingham Times) Knight said the “Come Grow with Us” theme has multiple meanings. “Grow our student enrollment; grow our scholarship funds; grow our endowment; grow offerings that we’re providing, not just to students, but to the community. We want to grow Fairfield.” The growth goes beyond the immediate campus, she said. “We have 40-plus acres where Lloyd Noland Hospital used to be that we want to develop,” Knight said. “And one of the things I want to do is ensure that I kickstart that, because in my mind, developing that property helps the city of Fairfield. I need some type of public-private partnerships over there. “I’ve talked to a charter school that is interested in building up there. We’re not taking anything off the table. We’re just looking for what makes the best sense for Miles College and for Fairfield.” Knight said the same kind of focus has been on the institution’s educational offerings. “I look to see what we’re teaching, what we’re offering and … what we should be offering,” she said, with an eye toward “increasing some areas where we know it makes sense for our students. For instance, we had insurance companies present us with an opportunity because they were having trouble finding African American students who majored in actuarial science. “Well, it’s hard to find people, period, who major in actuarial science, but what we said to them is, ‘we will find students, but you’ve got to help us. You teach our faculty, and then come in and teach our students. And then we’ll find the best students, because they’re already probably math or accounting majors,’ and now we’ve had our first actuarial science graduate.” Those kinds of partnerships help with workforce development, Knight said. “We want the business world; we want other entities to tell us what their needs are. So we’re looking at developing a certificate program. We applied for and received a sizable grant to pay someone to go out in the workforce and tell us what’s cutting edge. “The governor has been talking about … workforce development initiatives; she’s been talking about certifications. …One of those certificate programs is going to be a certificate in social justice, and it is framed around (former Birmingham Mayor) Richard Arrington and (retired federal Judge) U.W. Clemon.” The leadership at Miles College is eying growth plans. (Miles College) Knight said the school remains “relentless, looking for and examining what makes sense for Miles and what makes sense for our students.” The mission of 125 years ago hasn’t changed, she said. “We’re (looking to) give our students a top-notch experience here at Miles College. I am always committed to Miles College, our students and the historical mission bestowed upon this institution … to motivate and prepare students to seek knowledge that leads to intellectual and civic empowerment.” This story originally was published by The Birmingham Times. Republished with the permission of The Alabama NewsCenter.
General David Allvin tells Tommy Tuberville that aging aircraft is hurting military readiness
On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) questioned Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General David Allvin during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Armed Services. Allvin said that the increasing age of airplanes means they are down for repairs and maintenance for longer periods, so the Air Force has fewer aircraft available to fly at any given time. “One thing that has concerned me since I’ve been here for three years and even before that, we decided to build a new tanker, and we still are not in rapid deployment of that,” Sen. Tuberville said. “And it kind of concerns me that we just can’t overcome problems like that within this committee. But that being said, politics continues to take over. One thing I wanna talk about is I’ve had several calls over the last six, seven months from generals in the Air Force. In recent years, our sorties have decreased to one point five a month, and the Chinese have increased theirs to around four a month. Now, being from a coaching background, I know practice makes perfect. What’s your thoughts about that? We’ve got to be ready to fight, and one point five sorties a month doesn’t sound like a whole lot to me. And you’d know more than me.” General Allvin responded: “Well, Senator, reps and sets. That is important. And so, ensuring our readiness be able to meet the challenges certainly one of our priorities. One of the challenges that we have along with that is with our flying hours program, which is you don’t have flying hours, you can’t put the pilots in the cockpits. The challenge is we continue to have these legacy systems, so we only have so many dollars to spread across. And when you have reduced aircraft availability rates because they’re old, and they’re finding new and interesting ways to break, and they break for longer periods of time, and they stay in depots for longer periods of time. That removes them from the ability to be able to be flown. So that’s one of the challenges that we have. Also, with some of the maintainers that we want to maintain these new aircraft, we need those Wiley KG maintainers to keep fixing the old ones. So, some of that skill set that we’re looking for seasoned maintainers to transition to some of these fifth-generation platforms have not been available to us. And as they say, you want a ten-year maintainer; it takes ten years to build that. So if we can’t have access to those because they’re still maintaining the legacy platforms, and also those legacy platforms have supply chain issues, all those sorts of things that make it just less efficient. Which is another reason, as we are looking to manage the readiness of today and the readiness of tomorrow, that we have that challenge to be able to meet….meet the needs while still being able to advance to the modernization that we need.” “So you’re saying this is not a policy, this is a cost problem, an airplane problem, maintenance problem?” Tuberville asked. “This is not a policy that we have to cut back to one point five sorties a month. Are you saying that?’ “Senator, what I would say is where policy could help is as we try and pursue our modernization strategy, if we could have less restrictive language that will allow us to…..to move that along, we will continue to try and manage best the risk of maintaining the current legacy platforms and moving into the new platforms,” Gen. Allvin said. “So you being in the Air Force and….and being around it for a long time, how many sorties do we need a month to really be prepared to fight somebody like China?” Tuberville asked. General Allvin answered, “Senator, there’s a great phrase in the weapons school that says, “It depends.” And I know that’s not a satisfying answer, but if I could maybe talk about what it may depend on. We have revalidated throughout our Air Force over the past eighteen months. We have revalidated what we call our mission-essential tasks. Moving from twenty, thirty years of counter-VEO fights, understanding the nature of the environment in which we’re gonna need to fight in the future. We’ve revalidated those tasks. Understanding how what we do on those tasks tells us how many sorties we’re gonna need. We’re also moving into a world where – when I was flying, if you’re in a simulator, you weren’t getting that much training. You need to actually be flying. The advancement of the synthetic environment and the ability to work in some of the key mission areas without actually being in the cockpit changes that equation as well. So I would say – I do believe we could fly more and be better. But to give you a precise amount, I think, would be probably folly because there are other elements with respect to mixing with the live virtual construction environment that will help offset the need for pure airborne flying.” General Allvin is currently the Vice Chief of Staff for the Air Force. He is awaiting confirmation to become Chief of Staff for the Air Force. Gen. Allvin is one of the nominees affected by Sen. Tuberville’s holds on promotions in his feud with President Joe Biden over the department’s policy of funding travel and additional paid time off for service members and their dependents seeking an abortion. “Thank you for what you do,” Tuberville told Allvin. “I wish they’d bring you to the floor today. I’d vote for you to be confirmed. Hopefully, that happens in the near future. Thank you very much.” Tuberville is refusing to give unanimous consent on hundreds of senior-level military promotions. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) could bring the promotions to the floor one at a time to get this matter resolved. He has chosen not to do that, arguing confirming the promotions one at a time could take weeks. The Congressional Research Service released a memo stating
Steve Flowers: Of course, the Space Command decision was political
In my July 19, 2023 column, my prediction was that Democratic President Joe Biden would keep the heralded space command headquarters in Colorado rather than allow it to be moved to Alabama. Biden made the Colorado decision ten days later. Why? It is very simple. Biden is a Democrat running for reelection for President as a Democrat. Colorado is a blue Democratic state. Alabama is a ruby-red Republican state. Of course, the decision to keep the facility in Colorado was political. The only reason that the federal military officials even considered moving the Space Command from Colorado to Huntsville, Alabama, over two years ago was because of our omnipotent senior senator, Richard Shelby. When Shelby spoke, generals and presidents listened. Senator Richard Shelby was Chairman of the United States Senate Appropriations Committee. He wrote the federal budget. There is an old adage that those who control the gold make the rules. In this regard, Shelby was more powerful than the President, whether it be Donald Trump or Biden. Shelby told the Generals that he wanted the Space Facility in Huntsville. Therefore, they made the announcement that it would be moving to Alabama. The bottom line is the only reason there was any consideration towards moving the facility from Colorado to Alabama was Richard Shelby, and the only reason that it will not be moving is because Shelby is gone. I knew at the time of the announcement that the Space Command headquarters might move to Alabama, that if Shelby did not get it actually moved before he retired it would probably never happen. Folks, you are just beginning to see the impact Senator Shelby’s retirement means to the state of Alabama. Our two freshman senators, Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, fought valiantly and commendably for Huntsville, but they are essentially irrelevant in the process. It is all about seniority in Washington. Tuberville’s two and a half years in the Senate places him 93 out of 100 in seniority. Young Katie Britt has the makings of being one of our greatest U.S. Senators, along with giants Richard Shelby, Lister Hill, and John Sparkman. However, currently, Katie’s eight months in the Senate places her 99 out of 100 in seniority. Furthermore, Tuberville and Britt are in the minority party in the U.S. Senate. Democrats have a majority in the Senate along with a Democratic President. Some liberals have implied that Tommy Tuberville was the reason for the decision because of his feud with the Biden Administration over the abortion policy in the military. That is not the reason. They are actually flattering Tuberville. With his lack of seniority, he is not that relevant in the decision-making process. However, his being a rabid right-wing Trump Republican surrogate certainly did not help the matter. Huntsville should not feel so badly about the Biden Administration leaving Space Command in Colorado. It was crumbs compared to what Shelby loaded Huntsville up within the last decade anyway. This Space Command deal is more for prestige than it is for jobs and dollars. Shelby brought most of the high-tech and aerospace dollars in the country to Huntsville, which is what matters. Much more importantly, he moved most of Washington to Huntsville, including the FBI Headquarters. Folks, that is real power. It is unlikely that Alabama or any other state in the nation will ever see the power wielded by Richard Shelby in the nation’s history. Yes, Colorado got to keep the Space Command name because of politics. However, lest people forget, Huntsville has grown into one of the premier high-tech defense places in America because of politics. In the post-Depression era of the 1930s, Huntsville was a sleepy cotton town of 20,000. Our two U.S. Senators during the 1940s through 1960s were icons Lister Hill and John Sparkman. They were giants of the Senate, who were New Deal FDR allies with seniority, prowess, and class. John Sparkman brought the Redstone Arsenal and Wernher von Braun to Huntsville, and the rest is history. Over the years, I have told Huntsville’s brilliant Mayor, Tommy Battle, who has been an integral part of Huntsville’s explosive growth, they should name their city Sparkmanville. Given Shelby’s powerful sustaining of what Senator Sparkman began 70 years ago, maybe Sparkman/Shelbyville should be the Rocket City’s new name. It’s all about politics, folks. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Fox in Clay County was discovered with rabies
Rabies remains a serious concern in Alabama. The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) reports that a fox in the city of Ashland, Alabama, in Clay County, has tested positive for rabies. The fox was reported to the local law enforcement as acting strangely and stumbling around in the city limits. The police were able to capture it. The fox tested positive for rabies. No other animals were known to be exposed, but there were a few domestic animals on the property that were not vaccinated. The fox is having additional tests to identify the strain of rabies. There are two major strains of rabies: a raccoon strain and a bat strain. Both are found in Alabama. Wildlife, especially, raccoons, pose a risk of rabies to other animals and humans. The best protection is to keep your animal current on rabies vaccines. ADPH is reminding pet owners to keep their animals up to date on rabies vaccines. State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Dee Jones said, “Vaccinating your animals against rabies is the best way to keep your pets protected from the deadly virus. Animal vaccinations also help protect people. People are often exposed when the animal first becomes sick and before rabies can be confirmed.” 15 people in Russell and Lee County as well as pets were recently exposed to rabies by a rabid cat last month. A fox in Houston County tested positive for rabies in April. A raccoon in Houston County tested positive for rabies in February. Alabama law requires that all dogs, cats, and ferrets be vaccinated at 3 months of age and annually unless they receive a three-year rabies vaccine. The first rabies vaccination is only good for one year, regardless of which vaccine a pet gets. The best way to combat rabies is prevention: · Taking precautions with wildlife. · Make sure their pets are current on rabies vaccinations. · Always reporting an animal bite or other exposures to their medical provider and the ADPH. To avoid possible exposures to rabies: · Do not let pets run loose; confine pets in a fenced-in area or with a leash. · Do not leave uneaten pet food or scraps near your residence. · Do not illegally feed or keep wildlife as pets. · Do not go near wildlife or domestic animals that are acting in a strange or unusual manner. · Caution children not to go near any stray or wild animal, regardless of its behavior. Rabies is fatal for humans and pets alike. There is no treatment. For more information, visit the ADPH website. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Marilyn Lands announces campaign in State House special election
Huntsville resident Marilyn Lands has announced her candidacy for Alabama House of Representatives District 10 as a Democrat. The announcement was made at a press conference on the Madison County Courthouse steps. Marilyn ran for State House District 10 in the 2022 general election. Her campaign came closer than any other Democrat in Alabama to flipping a swing district. Her announcement follows Governor Kay Ivey’s call yesterday for a special election in District 10 on March 26, 2024. “I grew up here, raised my family here, and go to church here. Today, I am proud to announce my campaign for District 10 because this is my home and you are my neighbors,” said Marilyn. “I will be your voice in Montgomery. I will find solutions to our common problems and work to build unity.” Marilyn is a Licensed Professional Counselor currently in private practice. Previous professional roles include serving as the Director of Counseling Services at Wellstone Behavioral Health, Director of Marketing at the Port of Huntsville, and as a Marketing Analyst at the Boeing Company, all in Huntsville. Marilyn holds degrees from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Alabama A&M University. She is a wife, mother, and community activist whose Christian values deeply influence her life and work. Marilyn is a graduate of Leadership Huntsville/Madison County (Class 5) and is a past festival chair of Panoply of the Arts and a past board chair of The Arts Council and Leadership Huntsville/Madison County. For more information visit: www.marilynlands.com.
John Hendrickson: Is former Vice President Mike Pence’s view on conservatism correct?
Former Vice President Mike Pence, in a speech before the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College and in an article in The Wall Street Journal, warned Republicans and conservatives about the danger of populism. The former Vice President argues, in echoing Ronald Reagan’s 1964 address, that it is “a time for choosing” for Republicans whether to continue to follow the “siren song” of populism or return to true conservatism. It is clear that Pence is not only drawing a line in the sand and forcing a debate over conservatism, but also distancing himself from former President Donald Trump and those who support his policies. Nevertheless, Pence fails to understand that the conservative populism he is denouncing is actually rooted within the American conservative tradition. Debates within and amongst conservatives is nothing new. The conservative movement contains various “schools of intellectual thought” over what conservatism means and how conservatives should shape public policy. Vice President Pence argues that the Republican Party must return to traditional conservatism. “If we are to defeat Joe Biden and turn America around, the GOP must be the party of limited government, free enterprise, fiscal responsibility and traditional values,” wrote Pence. Pence is defining traditional conservatism based upon the principles of limited government, free enterprise, fiscal responsibility, and traditional values. Further, he correctly notes that individual “rights come from God and nature, not from the state.” In addition, Pence argues that just “like our founders, we know the imperfect nature of men and women and that granting them unlimited power imperils liberty.” This is an important pillar of conservatism, that is, that human nature is flawed because of original sin. Pence is also correct in referencing the need for conservatives to uphold and defend constitutional principles such as federalism. Conservatives would largely agree with Pence’s definition of conservatism, but he only offers a surface view of conservatism. Pence warns about the danger of populism, and he argues that this is a political tool of progressives and he references William Jennings Bryan and the “Kingfish” Huey Long as examples. Further, Pence argues that populists within the Republican Party are a threat to limited government, traditional values, and even the Constitution. Further, these Republican populists favor abandoning “American leadership on the world stage” and “embracing a posture of appeasement in the face of rising threats to freedom.” Pence’s other indictment is that Republican populists are abandoning free enterprise. Is Pence correct that populism is not only wrong, but also rooted in liberalism and progressivism and that these Republican populists are not conservative? First, Pence needs to define what policies of the Trump administration were not conservative. Pence acknowledges that the Trump administration governed as conservatives, but now Trump has abandoned conservatism. Does this mean that the Trump America First agenda was conservative according to Pence? In 2016, President Trump campaigned on what was considered to be a new approach to conservatism. He called for restrictions on immigration, building a border wall to secure the border, a restrained foreign policy, and he was highly critical of free trade and openly called for tariffs to protect manufacturing. This agenda has been referred to as America First, conservative nationalism, and conservative populism. It also fits within the framework of the paleoconservative tradition. Nevertheless, the ideas that shaped President Trump were not new, nor were they a departure from conservatism as former Vice President Pence would suggest. In fact, President Trump was rediscovering an older conservative Republican tradition. As an example, Patrick J. Buchanan wrote that “in leading Republicans away from globalism to economic nationalism, Trump is not writing a new gospel. He is leading a lost party away from a modernist heresy – back to the Old-Time Religion.” Buchanan, during the 1990s, campaigned for the Republican nomination championing similar ideas as Trump. The conservative nationalist tradition can be traced back to the American founding. Specifically, Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists. President Calvin Coolidge even credited Hamilton and the Federalists and later the Whigs as the source of the Republican Party’s heritage. Former Vice President Pence should consider the conservatism of the 1920s. Conservatives such as Presidents Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge not only challenged progressives, but their policy agenda was based on conservative nationalism. Harding and Coolidge not only supported a restrained foreign policy, but also protective tariffs and restricting immigration. They also placed an emphasis on limiting government by reducing spending, paying down the national debt, and reducing tax rates. Harding and Coolidge actually reduced government. Vice President Pence appears to be fighting against conservative nationalism and embracing the neoconservative agenda that was embraced by President George W. Bush’s administration. Neoconservatism and the Pence-style of conservatism dominated the Republican Party before Trump. What were the results: a full retreat on the cultural war and traditional values, engaging in costly wars to promote democracy, free trade agreements which led to the devastation of manufacturing, middle-class jobs, and massive trade deficits which led to the rise of China, and uncontrolled immigration. Plus, the federal government, along with the national debt, continued to grow. It was this “traditional” conservatism that idolized and worshiped at the golden alter of democracy and free trade. Is this the conservatism that we want to return to as a nation or a movement? In fact, during the first Republican presidential candidate debate Vice President Pence resembled former President George W. Bush more than President Ronald Reagan, especially in his advocacy of sending more dollars and support to Ukraine. This foreign policy approach, along with free trade, has more in common with progressives such as Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Pence’s approach to Ukraine is Wilsonian. Pence is attempting to proclaim himself as the true heir to Reagan. When examining the legacy of President Reagan too many conservatives forget that Reagan, even with all of the free market and liberty rhetoric, often practiced a restrained foreign policy and implemented trade policies that were considered protectionist. Some even argued that Reagan was the most
