CForbes

The Marine Corps – Law Enforcement Foundation (MC-LEF) gathers annually in New York City for a fundraising gala. The goal of MC-LEF is to raise money to provide assistance primarily for the children of Marines and Federal Law Enforcement personnel killed on duty or those that have died under extraordinary circumstances in serving our country both home and abroad. Through the continuous support of donors MC-LEF has distributed over $54,000,000 to eligible children.

C. Forbes, Inc. has played a role in providing a number of the awards presented during the New York City Gala. In addition, Mark Rhea – C. Forbes, Inc. Creative Director, donates his time providing both the design and production of the gala’s one-hundred page program. Our goal is to assist the Marine Corps – Law Enforcement Foundation in their efforts to provide support for the families that have made the ultimate sacrifice.

We would like to encourage your support of this all volunteer organization. Please visit their website, www.mclef.org.

The president was joined on stage by first lady Michelle Obama and former first lady Laura Bush during the groundbreaking ceremony for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. President Obama called the museum a “celebration of life” during the groundbreaking event for the 19th Smithsonian museum on February 22, 2012.

C. Forbes, Inc. was selected by the Smithsonian Events Committee to assist with the design and production of the lapel pin for the ceremony, along with a number of additional commemorative items. C. Forbes, Inc. president Chip Forbes said that, “we are honored to have played a role in another event held on the mall in Washington, DC. Our firm is proud to have supported a number of historical events that include the dedication ceremony of the World War II Memorial, 50th Anniversary of the Korean War ceremony and several Presidential Inaugurals”.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is scheduled to open in 2015. The museum will showcase items such as Harriet Tubman’s shawl, Nat Turner’s Bible, and an airplane flown by the Tuskegee Airmen. The museum to date has collected more than 20,000 artifacts.

The Space Shuttle Endeavour launched on May 16, 2011 at 8:56 a.m. EDT commanded by Mark Kelly and his crew of five. STS-134 headed for the International Space Station on a 16-day mission transporting nickel-silver material that would later be used to fabricate coins to help commemorate the history of the Space Shuttle Program.

C. Forbes, Inc. is proud to have played a small role in commemorating the history of the Space Shuttle’s Program by designing and fabricating custom coins with the nickel-silver that flew in space on the STS-134 mission.

The custom coins highlight the history of the Endeavour’s missions which clocked over 229 days in space while orbiting the earth 4,671 times. During that time the Space Shuttle traveled 122,883,151 miles.

In early October of 2001, less than one month after the attacks of 9/11, C. Forbes, Inc. was commissioned to help with the design and execution of a custom lapel pin for the United in Memory ceremony at the Pentagon. With approximately ten days to finalize the design, along with production, the custom United in Memory lapel pins were delivered for the ceremony.

Shortly after the ceremony, C. Forbes, Inc. was approached to design and produce a commemorative coin. Both the United in Memory coin and lapel pin represent the strength and resilience of our great nation and its military.

With September 11, 2011 approaching, C. Forbes, Inc. is proud to announce availability of the 10th Anniversary – United in Memory custom coin and lapel pin. The coin and lapel pin honors the memory of those that both risked or lost their lives a decade ago.

Mark Rhea, the Creative Director for C. Forbes, Inc. stated, “The bald eagle, with its wings forcefully extended, is girded by the Pentagon. Beneath the eagle is an olive branch, the international symbol of peace dating back to ancient Greece. Rays of sunshine emerge behind the translucent blue enamel backdrop as a reminder of hope”.

Mark continued, “The reverse side of the coin portrays one of the most iconic images from 9/11. First responders proudly unfurled our nation’s flag from the rooftop of the Pentagon for the world to see. The flag is represented in full color surrounded by the inscription, A Grateful Nation Remembers. The text is highlighted with a somber black background.”

More details are available at our online store »

The Marine Corps Heritage Center was conceived to tell the uniquely American story of contribution and sacrifice, valor, and victory of the United States Marine Corps. The center was designed to include a complex of facilities which include the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Semper Fidelis Memorial Park, along with artifact restoration and storage facilities. One of the goals of the Marine Corps Heritage Center is to make Quantico the foremost center for the study of the Marine Corps. The center is also an exciting destination for the Marines and civilians alike.

Since 1999, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation has worked with the Marine Corps leadership, historians, educators, museum professionals, architects and exhibit designers to conceive a great National Museum that would tell the Corp’s legendary story – through the eyes of Marines.

The Awards Committee of the Foundation’s Board of Directors recently honored Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman with the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s Special Achievement Award for the ten part mini-series, “The Pacific”. The award is given periodically to an individual or individuals who have made significant contributions to the heritage and legacy of the Marine Corps through extraordinary achievements in the Arts.

C. Forbes, Inc. is honored to have partnered with the Foundation to design the Special Achievement Award. The custom designed award was inspired by the architectural lines of the National Museum, along with the stone and atonements of the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park and Chapel.  The base of the award is fabricated out of the same granite used in the National Museum. The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation Seal is handsomely molded into the Intaglio crystal. The craftsmanship and design involved make this award truly a one of a kind.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born of Irish decent in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917. After graduating from Harvard in 1940, Kennedy joined the Navy. In 1943, his boat, Navy vessel PT-109, was sunk by a Japanese destroyer. Despite grave injuries, Kennedy led the survivors through perilous waters to safety.

Upon his return from the war, Kennedy became a Democratic Congressman from the Boston area and advanced to the U.S. Senate in 1953.

In 1956, Kennedy almost gained the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States. A short four years later, Kennedy was a first-ballot nominee to be the President of the United States.

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Kennedy’s presidency. One of the headline items is the JFK 50^th Commemorative Coin, designed by C. Forbes, Inc. The coin is packaged in a custom box with images of the former president, along with a die-struck portrait bronze coin. The set is a wonderful keepsake for your historical collection.

A united nation is at the threshold of recognizing the Sesquicentennial – 150^th Anniversary of the Civil War.  On April 12, 1861 at four-thirty in the morning the Confederates, under the command of General Pierre Beauregard, opened fire with fifty cannons upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina.

In commemoration of the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War, the Smithsonian Institution introduces a series of events and exhibitions. The series ranges from Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life, an exhibit exploring the life and legacy of our 16^th president to “Civil War” a collection of Civil War prints, paintings and sculptures. The Smithsonian Institution will be a significant gathering ground for the anniversary, along with a number of additional venues throughout our country.

C. Forbes, Inc. is proud to play a small role in commemorating this historic event. The attached image shows a die struck coin in custom packaging. We found the cannon design fitting, and reflective of the first shots fired on that fateful morning back in 1861. The imagery on the custom box is of archival photographs taken during the Civil War, along with images of both General Ulysses S. Grant and General Robert E. Lee.  More details are available at our store.