Client: Town of Vinton

Overview

This was an extensive project, five years to complete, with much community input. It expanded to include both the Town of Vinton and Roanoke County. I prepared the inital concept drawings and assembled the artist team John E. Kirtley, Jr., (contractor), Mary Babcock (landscaping) and myself. The central structure is 24' x 15'(h); overall area 3000 sq ft, approximately

Goals

Many elements had to be worked into the design to satisfy community stakeholders, to and yet fit the overall aesthetic and with a tight budget. The fundamental idea was to provide a place of contemplation and beauty, for visitors wishing to celebrate the lives and sacrifice of veterans. I drew up initial concept drawings and assembled the artist team .Major elements: Octagonal structure, bronze flag, water fountain, inscribed granite name plates, inscribed words on lintels, medallions of service branches also on lintels, star-point shaped brick entry ways, handicapped access ramps, seating, and landscaping with dogwoods, boulders, flowers--all of this within a very compact space.

Process

Many meetings were required with stakeholders and community representatives; both scheduling and budget were discussed extensively; meetings were also required with the major contractors. I was generally the liaison, for both in-person meetings and extensive email correspondence; I prepared the initial budget estimates and timeline, and drew up the contract; John E. Kirtley, Jr., as contractor, actually signed the contract took charge of the construction. Mary Babcock handled the landscaping, including machine and hand-stitching the flag which became the basis for the bronze flag.

Additional Information

This was a long project and a very sizable undertaking for a small community, and required a great deal of patience and willingness to work through obstacles, from everybody. The end result was outstanding; John E. Kirtley, Jr. deserves an award for his painstaking work, down to the last brick, and Mary Babcock was resilient and painstaking in her work. I love the poetry I came up with for the lintels: "Here Pause Awhile/And Bless Their Sleep/Who Fell in War/To Save Our Peace/Then Go Renewed/And Build the Lives/They Lost for You/In God We Trust.