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Murrieta Veterans’ Memorial: A Tribute In Granite • Newly Updated Technical Manuals, Sample Books Available Spotlight: Define your design • Upcoming Events • Connect with us
IN THIS ISSUE Murrieta Veterans’ Memorial: A Tribute In Granite Newly Updated Technical Manuals, Sample Books Available Spotlight: Define your design Upcoming Events Connect with us
Murrieta
Veterans’ Memorial: A Tribute In Granite
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Insight
Murrieta Veterans’ Memorial: A Tribute In Granite
Murrieta Veterans’ Memorial: A Tribute In Granite
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fter only eight weeks of construction – yet four years of planning -- the city of Murrieta, Calif., dedicated a long-anticipated memorial to its veterans on May 31, 2010. With a deeply symbolic design concept, the memorial located in the city’s Town Square Park honors the experiences of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. The project’s first phase, completed in May, includes a 25-foot-tall pentagon-shaped obelisk and a memorial wall to veterans of World War II. Future plans include construction of additional walls commemorating veterans of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I; the Korean War;Vietnam; Desert Shield and Desert Storm; and Iraqi
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Freedom and Enduring Freedom. In addition, a wall will be dedicated to prisoners of war and those missing in action. Design Concept “One of our goals was to communicate without words what the veterans experienced,” said Suzanne Palmer, Principal with David Neault Associates, the Temecula, Calif.-based landscape architecture firm for the project. Visitors to the memorial will first notice the 25-foot-high, pentagon-shaped obelisk memorializing the dedication and courage of all who have served. Constructed of polished Raven Black granite veneer, each side of the obelisk honors one branch of the military and
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is inlaid with that branch’s emblem in bronze. “In honor of the ultimate sacrifice of the veterans involved in these conflicts, the image of an American flag is reverently ‘draped’ over the top,” said Palmer. The American flag is constructed of granite in Indigo Blue, Red Dragon and Cashmere White colors. A V-shaped walkway, mirroring the existing walkway pattern of Murrieta’s Town Square Park, leads visitors through the memorial and intersects a meandering, crushed granite pathway. “The decomposed granite underfoot represents our homeland, our country,” said Palmer. “The memorial walls are set to purposely interrupt the flow of the path along the V-shaped walkway. It symbolizes how lives were pulled into and interrupted by these conflicts.” While only the World War II Memorial Wall is complete today, the additional walls will be constructed in chronological order along the V-shaped walkway. Like the World War II Memorial Wall, each wall will be etched with images of the veterans’ experiences. Careful to make the distinction that this is a veteran’s memorial, not a war memorial, Palmer explains that the project incorporates photographs and images etched into the granite memorial walls to convey the veterans’ emotions, thoughts and experiences.
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“Without words, their faces etched into the granite express how their lives were affected at that moment,” said Palmer. Like a memory, some of the etched images are vivid and clear, while others overlap and fade on the memorial wall. The walls will maintain a different height and shape, just as each conflict was different. “The thickness of the World War II Memorial Wall relative to its height represents the veterans’ strength, defying gravity in seemingly adverse conditions,” said Palmer. “The inclined and buried portions of the wall symbolize the moments of rise and fall that occurred during the conflict.” Materials Selection Through their research of existing veterans’ memorials, Palmer and Neault were inspired by the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., which also incorporates etchings of images in granite. After studying a variety of stones and materials such as marble, etched glass and concrete, Palmer and David Neault chose granite for the memorial walls and obelisk. With its longevity, ease of maintenance and ability to accommodate the etchings for the walls, granite made a natural choice. Color was an especially important decision for the project. Seeking the blackest granite possible with very little grain, the designers chose Raven Black for the memorial walls.
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Winter 2011
Newly Updated Technical Manuals, Sample Books Available Cold Spring Granite has worked hard this year to provide you with the latest information in our technical manuals and sample books.
In our new sample books, you’ll find: Our newly updated technical manuals feature:
• An overview of designing with natural stone, including physical properties and suitable applications.
• A section solely designated for color, texture and finishes, explaining how to take full advantage of the visual characteristics of natural stone and including sample cards. • A construction details section containing detailing, elevation and installation system information. • Helpful information on maintenance and caring for natural stone. • A CD-ROM with digital files of the Guide Specifications and construction details to help you prepare your final contract documents.
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• More colors in our palette. To give you more options as you begin the design process, we are increasing the number of colors available in our sampling program. In addition, we have included one book specifically designed to show the variety of finishes we offer. • Loose, removable samples give you quick and easy access for presentations, design concepts and comparing colors. When replacement samples are needed, you’ll find a convenient website address for placing your request. • Each sample is now labeled with its quarry location to assist with the search for local material.
To order your copy of a new technical manual or sample book, contact your local sales representative or click here to place an online request.
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Insight Winter 2011
Spotlight Define your design with graphical elements
that distinguish it in gorgeous detail.
Stop by and visit us at the above shows:
U.S. Green Building Council Florida Capital Region Chapter 2011 Green Building Expo February 17, 2011 Tallahassee, FL
Connect with us:
17482 Granite West Road Cold Spring, MN 56320-4578 T 800.328.5040 F 320.685.8490 www.coldspringgranite.com