Introductory Letter

    The reason for this letter is to share with you the vision of an amazing project that is being undertaken in New Whiteland, Indiana and a humble request for your support and partnership in this endeavor.

    Please allow me to introduce you to an American Hero from our own community.  Sgt. Joseph E. Proctor was raised in New Whiteland, Indiana and graduated from Whiteland Community High School in 1987.  After graduation Joey, as he was known by his family and friends, married his high school sweetheart, joined the National Guard and then the Army and served five years in Germany during Desert Storm. Joey completed his military contract and returned to Indiana where he and his wife Beth worked and raised their three children.  The events of 9-11 changed the course of Joe Proctor's life.  He re-enlisted in the Army and once again walked into harm's way to serve and protect the country he loved. On May 3, 2006 just 2 weeks from finishing his tour of duty, Sgt. Proctor courageously stared down the enemy and saved the lives of hundreds of American soldiers.  In the process of once again putting others first Sgt. Proctor lost his own life.  Here is an accounting that was posted to one of his unit member's blogs on that fateful day:

"When I arrived on the scene 15 minutes after the blast, a lightly wounded Iraqi approached me and told me "Proctor kill driver. Make truck stop."

The first realization was how incredibly wrong I was in my assessment of the Iraqi's story. The second realization was how clear it became that Proctor had done what very few men in this world could ever imagine.

A dump truck packed with an estimated 350 lbs. of explosives charged the strong point and breached the wall. Before it could make it to the barracks area when dozens sleep, the driver was shot dead by Sergeant Joe Proctor. 

Proctor, without hesitation, opened fire on the truck, which was bearing down on him, killing the driver and bringing the vehicle to a stop. Seconds later the vehicle detonated, killing Sergeant Proctor and Marine Corps Captain (Brian) Letendre instantly.

Sergeant Joseph Proctor need not be made more of in death than he was in life. In a world full of phonies, Proctor told it like it was.

In his absence we mourn him, comforted by the knowledge that he died the way he lived; standing yards taller than his frame, with courage and strength."

Nick Miccareli

    The Town of New Whiteland has donated an 11 acre site as the future home of Proctor Park.  A Memorial Plaque with Sgt. Proctor's story will be at the entrance of the park in a landscaped memory garden area.  The park design includes shelter houses, drinking and decorative fountains, landscaping, two separate playground areas, family picnic areas, walking trails, parking lots, lighting, fencing etc.  We will also be installing brick walkways to honor and memorialize the names and stories of all of our heroes - military, police, fire and EMS.  Heroes come in all shapes and sizes and wear many different uniforms.  This park will afford us the opportunity to celebrate their lives, tell their stories, remember, honor and respect their service and their sacrifice.  By creating this memorial park, we are honoring Sgt. Proctor and his families request - that we have a safe place for children and families to spend quality time together and that we never forget those who have sacrificed to serve and protect our community and country.

    We have been given an opportunity to celebrate the lives of these brave men and women, to tell their stories and to keep their memories alive.  We are the proud owners and benefactors of an amazing piece of American history and we have been called upon to preserve and perpetuate these stories.  We believe that people from all across Indiana and even America will memorialize their loved ones in this park.  What began as a mission to thank one of our own fallen heroes has become an opportunity for us to thank, honor and respect the many men and women, both living and deceased who have sacrificed for all of us.

    The estimated budget for this project is around $183,000.00.  To date we have received $34,721.17 in donations.

    The objectives of this project are numerous.  First it will be a place for families, where children can play, and families can share a picnic or spend an afternoon fishing.  Second it will be a place where people from Johnson County and beyond can honor their loved ones by purchasing a brick paver to be engraved and placed in our Memorial Walkway.  Finally, this park will be a living history classroom where teachers and students or parents with their children will read the stories of our "Hometown Heroes".  It will provide an excellent opportunity to teach our young people the meaning of a true hero.  Not the media darling, the high paid athlete, the rock star, the people that they tend to idolize but the men and women who live right next door and daily put their lives on the line to serve and protect us all.  For some of those heroes, the cost of their service required the ultimate sacrifice, their lives.  We, as a community, have the opportunity to say thank you in a way that celebrates their service and guarantees that their memories will remain forever in our hearts and in our community.  We will not let them be forgotten.

    I cannot begin to estimate the number of people that will be involved in or impacted by this project.  This project is bringing our community together as we work to raise awareness and the money necessary to complete our mission.  Many are volunteering their time, energy and labor as well as contributing financially to the project. I have already been contacted by people as far away as Virginia, California and Washington, DC who want to purchase bricks for the Memorial Walkway.  I believe this Park will fill a void in our community - a place to honor those who have given so much. Families will visit this park to share their memories of those who have gone before them with their children and grandchildren.  I know that this project will greatly impact the young people in the Clark Pleasant School District as they are already actively involved in fundraising efforts. The staff and administration at the various schools are helping to plan events to help us reach our goal.  What a privilege to be able to share the stories of these heroes and the difference they have made in our lives.

    The Town Council, the employees of the Town of New Whiteland and the Proctor family are committed to this project and are actively involved in sharing the vision and seeking donations while encouraging businesses and individuals to partner with us in this endeavor.  We also have a Proctor Park Committee that is open to all interested persons who share our passion for this project.  Several of the local VFW Posts as well as the Johnson County Eagles are raising money and planning fundraisers for the Proctor Memorial Park Project.  The students at Break-O-Day, Sawmill Woods, and Whiteland Elementary Schools are also involved in fundraising projects for this park. One of our churches, Grace Assembly of God, collected $10,000.00 in donations at their 4^th of July Honoring our Heroes Celebration!  We are also working with various police and fire agencies and organizations to create memorial plaques that will tell their stories and honor their service.  They too will have brick walkways to memorialize their brothers and sisters who have sacrificed to serve and protect our lives and communities.  The Town of New Whiteland and her employees currently maintain this park and will continue to do so.

    The close proximity of Proctor Park to two elementary schools will enable the teachers to take walking field trips to Proctor Park and utilize this unique history classroom.  We believe Veteran and other organizations will use this park to host gatherings and various remembrance ceremonies.  As we will have shelter houses and picnic areas we believe family reunions will be held here and stories and memories will be shared.  New Whiteland's Mission Statement in part is to provide a safe and healthy environment in which families and businesses will thrive. We are committed to fostering community pride, building relationships through neighbors helping neighbors, and providing a safe place for children to play and grandparents to enjoy their retirement.  We believe this park embodies that mission.

    Aside from the monument on the Johnson County Courthouse Square, I am not aware of a Memorial Park of this magnitude in Johnson County.  I believe the need for this project is great, and while we are sorry for the Proctor family's loss we count it a privilege to be able to honor Sgt. Proctor's life and memory along with the numerous other heroes who have made Johnson County and America the place we know and love and call home. 

    We hope to dedicate Proctor Park on May 3, 2008, the second anniversary of Sgt. Proctor's death.  Our mission is to have all of the equipment installed and officially open the park on that day.   It will be quite a celebration with elected officials, dignitaries, military personnel, family and friends of these heroes in attendance. We are hoping to pave the parking lot and possibly begin installing some of the flag poles this fall if we have adequate funding in place before the weather changes.  It will take several weeks to receive the playground equipment once it is ordered but we hope to begin installing it in late March of 2008.  We will begin taking orders for the memory bricks in September 2007 and we are currently working with various vendors in hopes of having some of our items donated as "In Kind" contributions. 

    We have mailed out or hand delivered more than 125 informational booklets/packets so far and we have been interviewed on a radio show, hosted booth space at the Johnson County Fair, participated in the Miracle Mile Parade and Hall of Fame on September 1^st and made numerous appearances to promote this project. The Daily Journal has and continues to cover our progress.  We continuously update the information on our web site www.townofnewwhiteland.com and will be linked to the websites of our "Proctor Partners".  We are working with various printing vendors to have marketing materials printed to encourage participation in this project.

    We would be thrilled to have you partner with us in this mission.  I appreciate your consideration of this request.  This project will fill a recognized community need that is not duplicated anywhere else in Johnson County, addresses a special project not covered by the regular budget for which funding is needed, and is and will create a sense of community.  Above and beyond all of those reasons, it is simply, the right thing to do.  I sincerely hope that you will help make this magnificent vision a reality for all of Johnson County.

Sincerely,