Gerald R. Ford International Airport and Secchia Family Foundation Community Legends Project Unveil Statue of President Ford
On Thursday, Oct. 15, the Gerald R. Ford Airport Authority, including Board Chair Dan Koorndyk and CEO Tory Richardson, along with Charlie Secchia, chair of the Community Legends Committee, dedicated the new Presidential Gateway Plaza, which included unveiling a statue of President Ford at the terminal entrance of the airport.
The statue of President Ford is a gift from Ambassador Peter and Joan Secchia, who created and funded the Community Legends Project, which commemorates the lives of significant figures in Grand Rapids’ history. The statue of President Ford is 12th in the series.
“This statue holds a special place in our family members’ hearts,” said Charlie Secchia. “Not only was President Ford an adept and insightful leader in a tumultuous time, he was Grand Rapids’ favorite son and someone my parents are honored to have called a friend. We could not be prouder to call him our own and dedicate this memorial as part of the Community Legends Project.”
During the dedication, Mike Ford, son of President Ford and chair of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, shared a video message where he thanked the Airport Authority and the Secchia family for the wonderful ways they have continued to celebrated and honor his parents’ legacy.
In the Ford’s honor, the former Kent County International Airport was renamed the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in 1999, the President Gerald R. Ford Tribute Room inside the airport was dedicated in 2017, and Betty Ford Drive was unveiled near the airport’s corporate hangars in 2019.
“Grand Rapids was a special place of love and devotion for my Dad. The statue is an honor he would be humbled by,” said Mike Ford. “The many visitors who come through the airport will now get to experience their favorite son, Jerry Ford.”
The bronze statue was created by artist Brett Grill, who also created the statue of President Ford located in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall and the Community Legends statue of Betty Ford outside the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. The newest statue depicts President Ford in a seated position, one arm lifted for embrace on a curved sandstone bench. The Presidential Plaza includes a global map etched into the concrete and includes the American flag and Michigan flag rising from West Michigan.
“This sculpture stands in contrast to many of the existing monuments honoring presidents, which are typically posed and elevated,” said Grill. “Although President Ford was certainly ambitious, he was, by all accounts, an everyman, humble and unassuming, not your typical politician.”
“We know that Dad was a very approachable and welcoming person, and this plaza allows those needing to rest after a long day of travel, or a place to stop and reflect,” said Mike Ford. “Brett has done a great job depicting Dad in this way, and I, myself, will stop and sit with him and say a prayer when I travel to Grand Rapids.”
