Donations sought for stained-glass tribute to troops

By Henry Cuningham
Military editor

The final push is under way to raise money for a stained-glass window for the 82nd Airborne Division Chapel honoring the service of paratroopers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"It is during this time of year of giving unto others that I ask for all of your assistance in meeting the completion of our project," Steve England wrote in a letter this month to 82nd paratroopers, veterans, families and friends.

England is president of the 82nd Airborne Division Memorial Association, a nonprofit organization. He retired from the Army after serving as command sergeant major of the division and Fort Bragg and the 18th Airborne Corps.

"We all realize that these are very hard times for everyone with the economy being what it is," England said in an interview. "We still feel this is a worthwhile effort."

The chapel is under construction on Ardennes Street and scheduled for completion in late 2012, he said in the letter. The window is about 8 feet wide and 14 feet tall, and the color themes harmonize with other windows, England said.

Stained-glass windows in division chapels honor the service of 82nd soldiers in all conflicts.

"We've had two conflicts at once, and we're going to put both of them in the same window," England said.

The division chaplain and brigade combat teams gave input for the themes, England said.

The left half of the window depicts Iraq with C-17 cargo aircraft at the top. Crossed swords represent Baghdad.

"They use patrolling as the theme," England said The soldiers in the windows wear DCUs, the desert camouflage uniform of earlier years, and transition in the windows to ACUs, the more current Army combat uniform.

"All the windows are done in a certain theme," England said. "In the top portions of the windows, you have the latest technology."

Soldiers are portrayed in the middle of the window. The bottom of the window has a religious theme.

The right shows scenes from Afghanistan with helicopters at the top.

There is a nondenominational quote from the Psalms in the lower right window.

Many donors contribute on behalf of a loved one, England said. People donating $82 or more will receive a certificate with their name from the association, England wrote.

Military editor Henry Cuningham can be reached at cuninghamh@fayobserver.com or 486-3585.

Source: http://fayobserver.com/articles/2011/12/25/1144928

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