Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/826899
80 • JUNE 2017 • WORLD FENCE NEWS On March 24, 2017, 39 volun- teers from across the U.S. and Can- ada gathered at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia for the North American Fence Contrac- tors Associaton's 6th annual goodwill fence replacement/restoration proj- ect. Here is a report on the project by Scott B. Ruete, U.S.C.G. (retired), chairman of the Arlington project. • • • Scope of work: This year we con- tinued to replace old 4' high galva- nized chain link fence around the visi- tor's center with beautiful commercial grade black aluminum fence. Over the last few years, we have replaced around 1200' lineal feet of this fence, improving the landscape of this hallowed area. We also have replaced about 1350' lineal feet of 6' high black vinyl coated chain link fencing. All staging for daily funerals is done next to this fence. Visitors – 12,000 to 15,000 a day – pass by this new fence. We take much pride in this work and the lasting impression we leave behind. Volunteers: We had folks come from Florida, Wisconsin, Tennessee, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Maryland, Virginia, and Canada, and I am sure I missed some other places. They get together, enjoy the ca- maraderie of others in the fence in- dustry, and do a project that means so much to all of us. Many are bringing their high school age kids with them or oth- er members of their companies who have never been to Arlington before. After we complete the project, usually around 2 p.m. of project day, all are welcome to tour the cemetery. Contributors: I would like to thank all of the companies and indi- viduals who gave their time, materi- als, equipment, and money that make this project a reality each year: Ultra Aluminum Mfg., Inc., Alumi-Guard, Fence Armor, Builders Fence Com- pany, Log Cabin Fence (providing all the food and drinks and hospitality tent for the workers), Modern Fence Technologies, Mart Prost, Hamp- den Fence Supply, Inc., A-Z Fencing, Willis Fence, Natural Beauty Fence, and MacAfee Systems (who supplied beautiful t-shirts for all participants and the soldiers who greeted us). If I missed someone, please for- give me but you know how much we all appreciated everyone's contribu- tions each year! Get involved: Contact me directly if you wish to take part in this project. What a great way to show your pa- triotism, spend some time with some great people in the industry, and may- be bring someone from your compa- ny as a bonus for a "job well done," while doing something meaningful to say "thank you" to those who paid the ultimate price, and their families. If you cannot attend the project but would like to contribute a monetary or material donation, contact Scott B. Ruete, Builders Fence Company, Ster- ling, Virginia; 301-252-1634; e-mail scottruete@gmail.com. Next project: NAFCA always has a board of directors meeting the Thursday before the Friday project. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. People can get together and have dinner that night and get up early Friday and off to work we go. We will be moving the time from March/April to October/November in 2018. We will continue this next proj- ect to install more 4' high black alu- minum fence which should take care of the entire visitor's center portion of our work. Visit the NAFCA web site www.4nafca.com and consult World Fence News for updates on the times Chairman reports on NAFCA's 2017 Arlington National Cemetery fence restoration goodwill project Members of "The Old Guard" at Arlington National Cemetery, including Scott Ruete's son, Sgt. Brian Ruete, took this photo with NAFCA volunteers at the con- clusion of the project. On display is NAFCA's first "artifact," part of a cherry tree limb that was removed as part of the 2012 fence project. Inset into the limb are two bronze medallions that were given to NAFCA by the staff at ANC as well as casings from a 21 gun salute from an actual funeral held at ANC. (NAFCA photos) Above left, at the completion of the project, members of The Old Guard gave a flag folding demonstration and hosted a Q&A session about the cemetery. Above right, new ornamental fencing replaces old and weatherbeaten chain link. and dates for the project. We follow this up with our Fence Training School in Sebring, Florida every February, which I highly recom- mend as another opportunity to send an employee to learn from the best in the fence industry. This information is also found at www.4nafca.com. Special note this year: I have the honor and privilege of having my son, Sgt. Brian Ruete, currently serving with "The Old Guard" at Arlington National Cemetery. He and his Casket Platoon came over to our hospitality tent area when we were finished this year and pro- ceeded to give us a wonderful flag folding demonstration and Q&A ses- sion about the cemetery. As a father and veteran, I could not have been prouder. It meant so much to all of us! My thanks go to those young men for doing that for us. We fed them and took a group photo with them afterwards. I look forward to continuing this project for many years to come. As long as there is a need for fence, we will provide it for them. My thanks again to all who made this special day possible. New KNIPEX bolt cutters designed for versatile, powerful cutting with less effort and hand force BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. – KNIPEX Tools has introduced its series of compact XL CoBolt ® bolt cutters to add to its original 8-inch CoBolt mini bolt cutter series. The bolt cutters are now 10 inches in length and are available with straight blades or with a notch, which allows for easier cutting of thicker materials. The XL CoBolt bolt cutters fea- ture a high transmission ratio that lowers the hand force needed, requir- ing 60 percent less effort compared to high-leverage diagonal cutters of the same size. The micro-structure, laser-etched cutting edges are uniquely designed to stop thicker, round objects from slipping during use. The notch in the blade keeps large cross sections close to the base of the blade for maximum leverage and easier cutting. Other features include gripping jaws below the joint for gripping and pulling nails, which make the CoBolt ideal for fencing and farming applica- tions. For more information on this and other tools in the KNIPEX line, visit www.knipex-tools.com. Pay tribute to those who have passed in the pages of World Fence News It is never a pleasant task, but World Fence News is honored to re- member fence industry members who are no longer with us by publishing obituaries and memoria in its pages. Many of the obituaries tell interesting and often inspiring stories about the lives of the people who helped shape the modern day fencing industry, and/or helped create it. In the event of the loss of a loved one who was involved in the fence industry, please feel free to submit complete obituary information which will be published in a timely manner. Submit obituary information to WFN managing editor Rick Henderson at editor@worldfencenews.com. High quality photos are also requested.