UPDATED JUNE 4, 2008

 The Mark Five Monument Project Committee would like to provide you all with an update to the progress of the project. 

 We would like to make clear what still seems to be some confusion because of our committee’s previous association with Homeland Security Policy Institute Group (HSPIG) and their attempt to erect a Man In The Sea Memorial at the Washington Navy Yard.  Without going into a lengthy explanation of the past, let us say this.  “The Mark Five Monument Project has always been an endeavor to erect an eight foot tall bronze JAKE monument to celebrate all graduates, past, present, and future of all U.S. Navy Diving Schools.  We are in no way associated with HSPIG.  The most logical place to erect the monument is at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) in Panama City Florida, and that is the plan. 

 June 12, 2007 the Committee signed a contract to actually produce the Mark Five Monument.  In addition to the monument, in an effort to raise the required funding, the committee has also contracted to produce 300 each, 18-inch certified, serialized, limited edition, exact replicas, in solid bronze statuettes of the monument for sale.  There will only be 300……..  Fist come first served The price of these statues is $2,000 each (shipping included).  Considering the cost of a similar bronze statuette ($4,600 plus shipping), this is a great price for a piece of history.

We encourage and are still accepting donations for this effort.  Please accept this opportunity to support this project in remembrance of the unsung heroes who labored in the murky depths to save lives and improve knowledge of the world underwater.  Corporate Sponsorship in amounts greater than $5000 will receive special recognition in the form of one of the three hundred statuettes.  Please contact one of the committee members for information on where to send your tax-deductible contribution.

 In addition to the sale of the 300 statuettes, we have come up with an additional way of adding to the funds that are required.  We are providing “drawing” tickets at $10 each.  We have printed 1,000 of these tickets.  The winning ticket will be drawn either at the erecting of the Mark Five Monument or when the 1,000^th ticket is sold, which ever occurs first..

 As of the printing of this flyer, 208 of the tickets have been sold.  For those of you that have already purchased tickets, which were for the “Sitting Jake” your tickets, are now for the above-described statuette.  We have reprinted the “drawing” tickets and stapled the corresponding new ticket stub to your old stubs.  The statuette for this drawing is serial # 001.

The production of the initial statuette (serial No 001) is complete (see picture).  We will take delivery of it June 27, 2008.  The committee was intensely involved in every aspect of design to ensure the product is technically accurate and to guarantee we erect a “JAKE” that all graduates (past, present, and future) of navy dive schools will take pride in.

We will be placing the first run (initial) order for statuettes June 28, 2008.  Delivery to your designated location will be approximately eight weeks later.  We are taking orders now.  Reservations require payment in full.  To promote timely participation, with payment we are allowing purchasers to reserve specific serial numbers, date of your class etc. This promotion will only be available during the first run pour of the statues.  After the first pour, you will have to be happy with whatever serial number is available.  At the time of writing this document 22 numbers are presently reserved, # 001, #002, #003, #004, #005, #006, # 007, #010, #020, # 021, #034, #043, #047, #049, #056, #057, #059, #066, #072, #081, #167 and #300.  If you have any questions please contact any of the committee members.   

Please help in spreading the word on this project.  Please email this document and the picture to people you know.  The sooner we sell the 300 statuettes, the sooner the Mark Five Monument will be reality and erected.  We will be giving the www.markvmonument.org website a face-lift very soon and updating it on a regular basis.  Additionally, progress of the project can be viewed at http://www.diversgifts.com. 

              The Mark Five Monument Committee