WARRANT
OFFICER HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
(formerly Warrant
Officers Heritage Foundation)
An
Independent 501 (c) (3)
Non-Profit Public Charity
Preserving Army Warrant Officer
History ™
Founded May 29, 2003
| Introduction |
Purpose and Goals |
Meeting the goals and Foundation
History |
(Many files throughout this
web site are Portable Document Format (PDF) files.
If you cannot open a PDF file
download the current version
of the free Adobe reader.)
About Us and Foundation History
Over the years, based on suggestions from the U. S. Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA) membership, research by staff and volunteers, and the ever increasing demand for support which frequently translates to increased funding requirements, USAWOA looked for ways to improve the efforts to insure
that the Army Warrant Officer heritage and history is properly maintained and presented to the public. It was concluded that the best way to do this is to create a separate foundation. During the summer of 2003, CW5 Franklin D. Meeks, then National President of
the U. S. Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA), caused the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation to be set up.
Why was the foundation created?
The USAWOA felt this action was necessary due to the USAWOA federal tax categorization. The Internal Revenue Service determined that
USAWOA was a “Not for Profit, Social Welfare Organization.” The precise IRS categorization is “501 (c) (4).” This category was assigned
to USAWOA in 1974..
USAWOA sought to clarify the “tax deductibility” question for present and potential financial donors. The 1972 IRS tax category designation letter for the Association clearly states that: “As a social welfare organization, contributions to you are not deductible by donors. You should advise your contributors to that effect.”
Therefore, we took action to establish
a non-profit charitable organization to replace the
"USAWOA Museum Fund" program. The Warrant Officers Historical Foundation will administer the fund. The IRS categorizes charitable organizations as “501 (c) (3)” and gifts to these organizations are fully (and generally unquestionably) tax-deductible.
While the foundation is structured to be a stand-alone entity, we can accept and hope for financial support from both individuals and organizations. The foundation cannot succeed or even exist for very long without this critical support. This new approach to what was the "Museum Fund" effort in the past will hopefully result in increased USAWOA donations and encourage
organizations to also donate.
Purpose and Goals
The Warrant Officer Historical Foundation
is organized, administered, and operated exclusively to receive, administer and expend funds as a public charity for among such other objectives and illustrative purposes only, and not by way of limitation, the following purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code as it may be amended from time to time:
Overarching goal
“Preserve
and educate our fellow
military and the
general public about
the long and rich history of the Army
Warrant Officer Corps.”
Individual
Goals
-
Manage the funds
on hand; solicit donations, gifts, bequests, and grants, in
order to achieve the over arching goal.
-
Publish Warrant Officer History Book
Editions at approximately 10 to 15 year intervals.
-
Raise awareness about U. S. Army Warrant Officers and their contributions to the mission of the United States Army.
-
Erect
Memorials to our Fallen
Comrades over the years since the establishment of the U. S. Army Warrant Officer Corps.
-
Design and Construct a Warrant Officer Historical Exhibit commemorating 100th Birthday of the Army Warrant Officer.
-
Participate in Joint Efforts together
with the U. S. Army Warrant Officer Association in planning to commemorate the 100th
Birthday of the Army Warrant Officer.
-
Avail
ourselves of other opportunities to portray the long rich History of the
U. S. Army Warrant Officer.
Here is where we are with these actions
and Foundation History
On May 29, 2003, then U. S. Army
Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA) President CW5 Frank Meeks appointed the initial Directors of the Foundation. They were CW5 (Ret) David Welsh,
Director, Incorporator and Registered Agent; CW4 (Ret) Ronald Whalen, Director; and CW4 (Ret) Carl Burnett, Director. The appointed Directors elected two additional Directors who were CW4 (Ret) Cletus McKeown and
CW5 (Ret) Thomas Piatti.
See current Foundation Directors and Officers.
In June 2003, a decision was made by
USAWOA to transfer their Warrant Officer Museum Fund account to the
Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation. Thereby, it was hoped to provide a much broader appeal to potential donors as well as broader latitude for the utilization of funds derived.
On July 8, 2003 the Commonwealth of Virginia approved the request to incorporate the Foundation.
On September 12, 2003, the
Internal Revenue Service assigned the Foundation an Employer Identification
Number.
On October 23, 2003 the Board of Directors held an organizational meeting during which they elected replacement directors for CW4 (Ret) Cletus McKeown who had passed away and CW4 (Ret) Carl Burnett who was unable to serve due to conflicting business pressures. CW5 (Ret) Richard Markle and CW3 (Ret) Alfred Cox were elected as replacements. The Foundation Bylaws were approved and
Corporate Officers were elected.
See current Foundation Directors and Officers.
On March 19, 2004 the IRS issued an Advance Ruling granting the Foundation Non-Profit Status under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Ruling covers the Foundation and donors from July 8, 2003 (the date of Incorporation in the Commonwealth of Virginia) until December 31, 2007, at which time a final determination will be rendered. As a publicly supported organization, all grants, donations, and bequests to the Foundation are tax deductible.
On March 21, 2005 Foundation President David Welsh, Vice President Richard Markle, and
Treasurer Ronald Whalen met with Army Historical Foundation (AHF) and National Museum of the U.S. Army (NMUSA)
Project Office. AHF representatives presented an overview of the AHF and their involvement with the NMUSA project. The
Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation (WOHF) presented a briefing on the Foundation's structure and goals. Brig. Gen. (Ret) Abrahams, AHF Executive Director, presented the WOHF with a copy of U.S. ARMY A COMPLETE HISTORY. This almost 1,000 page book published by AHF is a chronological and pictorial history of the Army
from 1607 through 2004. It contains the birth of the Army Warrant Officer Corps in 1918,
half page reproductions of the "LET GO!" and "The Quiet Professional" prints
commissioned by the U.S. Army Warrant Officers Association and painted by the late Don Stivers, plus a full, 9 1/2" wide by 13" long concise History of the Army Warrant Officer. Discussion then followed between all parties and it became
obvious that mutual cooperation was in the best interest of both Foundations. In addition, the
WOHF Directors met with the NMUSA Museum Contents Coordinator. We were briefed on the concept plan for the museum and tentative layout.
WOHF assistance was solicited in obtaining Warrant Officer unique historical items for the Museum. The possibility of obtaining oral biographies of historically significant Warrant Officers was also discussed. Both the AHF and NMUSA representatives also spoke about the Memorial Garden planned for the Museum grounds. This Memorial Garden could become the site for a Memorial to Fallen Warrant Officer, the erection and placing of which is a Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation goal.
On October 12, 2005 the manuscript for a Warrant Officer History Book was submitted to the printer -
see Cover
& Table of Contents, and more information on the
History Book Project.
October 2005 marked the 2nd Annual Board meeting of the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation. The Board meeting was held in Tucson, AZ in conjunction with the USAWOA Annual Meeting (AMM) of the Members. Directors present in person or by teleconference were David Welsh, Chairman & President; Richard Markle, Vice Chairman & Vice President; Thomas Piatti, Director & Secretary; Ronald Whalen, Director & Treasurer; and Alfred Cox, Director & Assistant Treasurer. During the meeting Chairman David Welsh made a motion to reorganize the Board to expand to seven members so that the membership would constitute a simple majority for oversight of the Corporate Officers who would also remain as voting Board members. This would incorporate the current trend to insure oversight by external directors. The motion passed unanimously and the following were elected: Richard Markle as Chairman, Alfred Cox as Vice Chairman, David Welsh as Director & President, Thomas Piatti as Director & Secretary, and Ronald Whalen as Director & Treasurer, with two directors position vacant. Chairman Markle then appointed the Board as a whole as a search committee. See
the Minutes of the Meeting.
In December 2005 the Board of Directors met in Executive Session to discuss nominees for the two vacant directors and some issues that came up during the USAWOA
Annual Meeting of the Members in October 2004, regarding the Warrant Officer History Book Project. CW5 (Ret) Donald "Woody" Woodruff and CW2 (Ret) Benjamin Gottfried were nominated and elected to fill the two vacant Directors positions effective January 1, 2006.
In June 2006 a letter was sent to each USAWOA Life member outlining the Foundation's goals, objectives, and progress to date. This letter also solicited financial support.
On September 22, 2006
proofing of "WARRANT The Legacy of Leadership as a Warrant Officer" history
book, it's covers, and dust jacket was completed and the book was certified
for printing -
see Cover and Table of Contents and more information on the
History Book Project.
On October 14, 2006 the 3rd Annual Board Meeting of the Foundation was held in Chestertown, MD. Operations since the 2nd Annual Meeting were reviewed and plans were reviewed for the upcoming 12 months. See
the Minutes of the Meeting for details.
In October 2006, at the 34th USAWOA Annual Meeting of the Members in St. Petersburg, FL, the attendees individually donated $1,660 to the Foundation for which we
were very grateful.
In December 2006, "WARRANT The
Legacy of Leadership as a Warrant Officer" history book was released -
see more.
(This History Book is now sold out. The Foundation plans to publish a new
Warrant Officer History Book in 2018 in commemoration of the 100th Birthday
of the Army Warrant Officer.)
On September 28-30, 2007 the 4th Annual Board of Directors Meeting of the Foundation was held on Chincoteague
Island, VA. Nominations and elections were held and all Board Members and Corporate Officers were reelected. CW4 (Ret) Donald E. Hess, USAWOA President Emeritus, was honored with the designation as Foundation Historian Emeritus and Advisor. The Board also directed that a program be developed by the Corporate Officers to recognize major donations by individuals and organizations. See
the Minutes of the Meeting for details.
In October 2007 at the 35th USAWOA Annual Meeting of the Members in San Antonio, TX, USAWOA National President CW4 (Ret) Roy Valiant accepted two copies of
"WARRANT The Legacy of Leadership as a Warrant Officer" on behalf of the U. S. Army Warrant Officers Association. Individual attendees and USAWOA Chapters donated a total of $1,000 plus pledges
in the sum of $600 were received. We are grateful for the support of USAWOA, it's Chapters and Members.
On April 18, 2008 the Internal Revenue Service issued a letter classifying the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation as a
Public Charity. With this final ruling, all past and future donations continue to be tax-deductible -
see IRS Letter.
In the
Summer of 2008
"WARRANT
The Legacy of Leadership as a Warrant Officer - 90 Years of Technical
Expertise
in the Army", a
Feature article in "ON POINT The Journal of Army History,"
was published by Army Historical Foundation.
In January 2009, the Foundation issued an
open letter in the USAWOA NEWSLINER to USAWOA, its Regions, Chapters, individual members, Corporate sponsors, and fellow Warrant Officers for their support and donations.
In June 2009, the Foundation issued another
open letter in the USAWOA NEWSLINER announcing that the fund raising goal for the Memorial to our Fallen Warrant Officer Comrades had been reached.
In September 2009, the Corporate Officers of the Foundation proposed a concept design for the Warrant Officer Memorial. The design concept was unanimously approved by the Foundation Board of Directors on September 18, 2009.
On November 3, 2009, Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation Chairman of the Board CW5 (Ret) Richard Markle visited the Army Historical Foundation (AHF). During the visit the WOHF proposal was presented for approval to place six granite benches funded by the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation in the Memorial Garden of the National Museum of the U. S. Army (NMUSA) engraved in memory of our Fallen Warrant Officer Comrades. The theme is "SOME GAVE ALL - ALL GAVE SOME" with each bench engraved to cover a period of conflict, i.e. 'THE WORLD WARS", “KOREA”, “VIETNAM”, “PANAMA - SOMALIA – HAITI”, “PERSIAN GULF” and “GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR”. Also during the visit, Markle presented a $5,000 check to the National Museum Capital Fund Raiser in behalf of the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation and the U. S. Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA). Also presented were two copies of
"WARRANT The Legacy of Leadership as a Warrant Officer" history book, one for the NMUSA Research Library and the other as a desk reference for the AHF Historian.
On November 6th USAWOA National President CW5 Gary Nisker announced the Memorial Bench design and the $5,000 donation to the NMUSA Fund Raiser to the attendees at the USAWOA 37th AMM in Salt Lake City. CW5 Nisker also announced a campaign to raise $100,000 toward construction of a proposed Warrant Officer Historical Exhibit commemorating the 100th Birthday of the Army Warrant Officer Corps in July 2018 -
see more.
On December 1, 2009, CW3 (Ret)
Alfred E. "Al" Cox relinquished his seat as the Vice Chairman of the
Foundation. He admirably served as a Director and Assistant Treasurer from
2003-2005 and as Vice Chairman of the Board from 2005-2009.
On March 24, 2010, CW5 (Ret)
Donald "Woody" Woodruff became the Vice Chairman of the Foundation's
Board of Directors replacing CW3 (Ret) Alfred "Al" Cox who had retired and
CW4 (Ret) Harry C. McCurdy assumed the Director's seat vacated by
Vice Chairman Woodruff.
On April 7, 2010, the Board of
Directors of the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation set 2018 as the
planned release date for the next Warrant Officer History Book edition. The
Title of the book has not yet been selected but the theme will center around
the July 9, 1918 birthday of the Army Warrant Officer in the Mine Planter
Service of the Coast Artillery and the 100 Years thereafter.
On April 24, 2010 the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation was
joined by the U. S. Army Warrant Officers Association in issuing a
Joint Resolution
to support an initiative for the
Casemate Museum at Fort Monroe, Virginia to remain as an active Army
Museum in the United States Army Museum System - see the
Resolution. (See also
"Fort Monroe's Little
Known History: Birthplace of the U. S. Army Warrant Officer.")
The May-August 2010 Edition of ENGINEER The Professional Bulletin of
Army Engineers contained a Historical article by Foundation President CW5 (Ret)
Dave Welsh entitled
92nd
Birthday of the Army Warrant Officer.
On July 20, 2011, autographed copies "WARRANT The Legacy of
Leadership as a Warrant Officer" were presented to V.Adm..
Norbert Ryan, Jr., President of the Military Officers Association of America
by CW5 (Ret) David P. Welsh, President of the Warrant Officers
Heritage Foundation and author of the book; and for COL Stanley Smith,
Commandant of the U.S. Army Warrant Officers Career College, by CW4
(Ret) Donald "Don" Hess, the Foundation's Historian Emeritus.
COL Smith's book was accepted on his behalf by CW5 Michael R.
Funk, Deputy Commandant.
During the October 2011 at the USAWOA
Annual Meeting of the Members in Fayetteville, NC an
initiative was announced for the Foundation and USAWOA to join forces in
an effort to commemorate the July 2018 100th Birthday of the Army
Warrant Officer Corps with Warrant Officer Memorial Benches for
placement in selected locations in the U. S. and a 100th Birthday
traveling Historical Exhibit -
see the announcement.
On January 18, 2012, the Corporate Office of the Warrant Officers
Heritage Foundation moved from 462 Herndon Pkwy Suite 207, c/o USAWOA,
Herndon, VA to Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation, c/o Bay Life
Consulting Group, 6743-1 Maddox Blvd, PO Box 438, Chincoteague Island,
VA 23336-0438. Donations continue to be sent to the Warrant Officers
Heritage Foundation c/o USAWOA, 462 Herndon Pkwy, Suite 207, Herndon, VA
20170-5235 for processing and deposit.
On February 3, 2012, the
Foundation purchased the web domain names
WarrantOfficerHeritage.org and WarrantOfficerHistory.org for
future use as the Foundation's web site. The Board of Directors
decided that when the web site is relaunched as a stand alone site
the domain name WarrantOfficerHistory.org will be used. The
Foundation will continue to own and renew the domain name
WarrantOfficerHeritage.org so that it is not available for others
to purchase.
On February 17, 2012, the
Foundation ordered the first Warrant Officer Memorial Bench. When
received by our vendor the seat back will with engraved with the
text and an Eagle Rising. Once completed pictures will be taken and
posted on the Foundation’s web site and provided to the NEWSLINER
Editor. The Foundation is also exploring a location in the
Mid-Atlantic Region for installation of this bench.
On February 18, 2012, the
USAWOA First State Chapter held an Installation and Awards Luncheon
at the Dover Downs Hotel. CW5 (Ret) David P. Welsh, President and
Founder of the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation, presented the
first of many Certificates of Enrollment as an "Eagle Rising
Donor." T he Certificate was presented to the USAWOA First State Chapter
for their continued support in preserving the History and Heritage
of the U. S. Army Warrant Officer. CW5 (Ret) Welsh also presented a
specially designed Foundation Coin to USAWOA Northeastern Region
Deputy Director CW5 (Ret) Bill Buss recognizing his significant
donation to the Foundation.
The March 2012 edition of the Army Historical
Foundation CALL TO DUTY newsletter announced the National Museum of
the U. S. Army VETERANS' HALL SPONSORSHIP and asks veterans' groups
to "Follow the lead..." of the six groups already
demonstrating "Support in action!" The Warrant Officers
Heritage Foundation is a SILVER STAR Member having issued a grant in the sum of
$5,000 on November 3, 2009 -
see more.
Also in March 2012