Omaha Interview: Mogens Bay

OmahaNebraska.com Interview with Mogens Bay

Mogens Bay with Heartland of America Park in the background and Omaha skyline

A special thank you to Mogens Bay for the interview. Pubic Private Partnerships have been a great interest area of mine for some time. It was wonderful to hear his speech earlier and to do the interview.

Please tell me more about the public private partnership.

Well, often, when you need to get stuff done, people have to get together. As you know, the city owned all this land. We didn’t have to acquire any lands. We knew there was a fantastic philanthropic community in Omaha. So public is the city, private is philanthropy and when we get together, good things happen.

You said that it was very special to work with Omaha in this capacity and enumerated some of that in your speech. Can you tell us a little more please?

We worked with the mayor’s office. We worked with the City Council and we worked with MECA, which became our partner from the very beginning. They were going to manage the Park and they were very much involved in getting the Park built and overseeing that. Then, of course, we had lots of contractors and subcontractors. I would say that the City is the public part of the partnership and philanthropy, whether it is foundations or companies or individuals, is the private part.

Coming here to Omaha…what helped you along the journey to work on this project?

Bob Daugherty, who was the founder of Valmont, he’s the one that brought me to Omaha. He was my mentor when it came to getting involved in community stuff – nonprofits – making sure that we make a difference.

He established a very significant foundation on his death and that foundation was investing about $40 million dollars in our community. So, people that have benefited from living here are committed to giving back – Daugherty is a good example of that. That’s how we learn. We learn from Peter Kiewit. We learn from Walter Scott and there are more examples.

This is not just something that happens now, but it happens so that we have more money available now because these foundations are becoming very, very big. The spirit [of] getting together to make things happen in Omaha, no, it’s not new.

What do you recommend for people or companies that want to become more involved?

Get their employees involved with nonprofits with anything that they have a passion for. Don’t just go out and place a board member. No. Some may have a have a passion for economic development. Some have a passion for social services. It doesn’t matter. Just commit some of your time. As a matter of fact, when I look at the current situation and the future of Omaha, our problem is not going to be money. It’s going to be leadership. People stepping up to do things.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Medal of Honor Wall Dedication Ceremony-5 November

From: LTC (Ret) Michael DeBolt

I would like to invite you to the Medal of Honor Wall Dedication Ceremony on Saturday, 2pm at Heartland of America Park. Medal of Honor Recipient Ed Gomez went to Central, Miguel Keith to North High. They have schools, streets and/or parks named after them in South Omaha.

Echo Taps will be played by music teacher Kim Ingraham of Bryan High School who is part of Bugles Across of America playing at many of our 9/11, Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day services. She will be joined by her sister Carly. JROTC Cadets will carry 27 American Flags to honor our 27 names on the wall. Singing the National Anthem will be music teacher Tatiana Eskridge from OPS Mount View. Benson JROTC will provide the Color Guard.

Along with dignitaries listed below, I am excited to host the families of three Medal of Honor recipients. Dale Hansen’s brother from Wisner, Nebraska is bringing the Medal of Honor to place on display. Dale’s nephew Tom is rounding up as much of the family as possible to be on hand to honor his uncle. Mary Easley is the aunt of Miguel Keith. She is bringing Miguel’s Medals with her along with photos. She is hoping his cousins from Kansas City make it as well. Ed ‘Babe’ Gomez will be represented by Crystal Keele-Zimmermann who will be on hand to share the legacy of Babe.

Joining the event will be local Veteran’s groups to include the American Legion, Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, Gold Star families, and Honor & Remember families. Randy Zahn and Heartland Airborne Association has spent 8 years planning this monument and raising the nearly $12,000 for the granite work by JF Bloom.

This is JROTC 100th Anniversary, as part of our community service we raised $5,000 in funds to see this project to completion. Please join us as we honor the sacrifice of our fallen.

Planned program includes:

  • My Country ‘Tis of Thee sung by Sarpy Serenaders Barbershop Chorus
  • Welcome- LTC (Ret) Michael DeBolt, Omaha Public Schools Military Science Department
  • Presentation of the Colors (Benson High School Color Guard)
  • National Anthem sung by Tatiana Eskridge (Mount View Elementary)
  • Invocation – Heartland Airborne Chaplain Arnold Teachout
  • Senator Tommy Garrett remarks
  • God Bless America sung Sarpy Serenaders Barbershop Chorus
  • Keynote- BG (Ret) Don Bacon
  • Congressman Brad Ashford – Dedication of Wall
  • Unveiling of wall with assistance by Dale Hansen Family, Miguel Keith Family and Babe Gomez Family
  • Gun Salute Benson Post 2503
  • Echo Taps Kimberly and Carly Ingraham (Bryan High School/Westside High School)
  • Mayor Jean Stothert remarks (Omaha)
  • Mayor Matt Walsh remarks ( Council Bluffs)
  • Benediction – Heartland Airborne Chaplain Arnold Teachout
  • LTC (Ret) Michael DeBolt – Retire the Colors
  • Service Medley Song sung Sarpy Serenaders Barbershop Chorus

Medal of Honor Wall Dedication
November 5, 2016
Heartland of America Park
800 Douglas Street
2 pm