September 24, 2003

The annual Veterans of Foreign Wars Vigil opening at the grave of General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower will take place at 5:30 p.m., Friday, October 10 at the Place of Meditation on the grounds of the Eisenhower Center.  The Kansas VFW began the vigil in 1990 during the Eisenhower Centennial and has continued the event as one of their state projects.  VFW posts from throughout the state stand an all-night honor guard at Eisenhower’s grave.

Colonel Clay Edwards, Director, Combat Studies Institute, Command and General Staff College from Fort Leavenworth will open this year’s vigil.  Colonel Edwards graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1975.  He has served in Korea, France, and the Gulf War with the 2nd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 24th Infantry Division in Kuwait.  He holds a M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and a Masters of Military Arts and Sciences Degree in History from the Command and General Staff College.  He has received numerous decorations including the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, the Air Medal, and the Saudi Arabian Liberation of Kuwait Medal.

The following morning on October 11 at 10 a.m., a wreath commemorating Eisenhower’s birthday and sent by the President of the United States will be placed on Eisenhower’s grave by the Commanding General of Fort Riley,  Brig.Gen. Frank Kearney,  assisted by CSM Gilbert Canuela.  Both the vigil and wreath laying are free and open to the public.

 The Eisenhower Library is one of ten Presidential libraries operated by the National Archives and Records Administraiton, Washington, D.C.