Construction Of The First Obelisk Expected To Begin In 2020

A monument to the F-14 Tomcat, which some say is the last true U.S. Navy fighter aircraft, is planned for a prominent location on the boardwalk in Virginia Beach VA. Construction of the obelisk is slated to begin in 2020.

The Tomcat Monument Association is soliciting donations for the project, and has exceeded 60 percent of its goal. The association says it is currently waiting for the granite for the monument to arrive. “We have inaugurated a serious undertaking to erect monuments to the F-14 Tomcat we were all proud to fly and learned to love as we operated that glorious machine in peace and in war. To that end we have established the F-14 Tomcat Monument Association here in Virginia Beach to solicit revenue to fund a project to memorialize not only the airplane but also the aircrew and maintainers who dedicated themselves to the airplane and its mission," said association president Adm. 'Bad Fred' Lewis. "Special recognition and tributes will be given to those who gave their lives while flying the Tomcat. I am pleased to say that we have gotten off to a rousingly good start. Our intent is to erect the first monument at the Naval Aviation Plaza in Virginia Beach within the next year with follow-on sites under consideration in Pensacola and San Diego."

Laser-etched storyboard panels will display images of the iconic variable-sweep wing fighter, as well as descriptive text that will be visible on all four sides of the obelisk. The panels will depict aircraft operations, a tribute to maintenance and operational personnel, and a commemoration of those who gave their all flying the Tomcat, including their names inscribed on the monument.

The Tomcat Monument will be funded by donations (made in U.S. dollars) online via credit card through PayPal or by mail. Information on how to donate can be found at the FMI link below.

(Images provided by the Tomcat Monument Association news release)

FMI: tomcatmonument.org