High Ground
Vinton War Monument

Medium: Precast architectural concrete pavilion with fountain feature, bronze flag, and inscribed granite tablets, encircled by star-motif plaza and landscaped areas.

Type of Work: Commission

Comments: After many months of intensive and detailed work preparing the lifesize clay model for the Addison Caldwell sculpture (Virginia Tech), the opportunity to expand my "vocabulary of expression" by competing for the Vinton commission greatly appealed to me. I prepared many sketches beginning in September '06, but soon realized I would need help.

Fortunately, I was able to enlist assistance from John Kirtley of Hillbilly Pond Works (Roanoke), and Mary Babcock of Blacksburg Gardening. Together, we prepared the final design, which was chosen as a finalist in early 2007. The scaled "Concept Model," which John painstakingly constructed, went on display with three other models in the Vinton Municipal Building in the spring.

To our delight, the Vinton Town Council, with I think it is fair to say overwhelming public approval, voted to select our design. Work is slated to begin in the late summer of 2007 and be completed in the spring of 2008.

I would like here to acknowlege Scott Jordan of San Francisco, a friend and Vietnam Veteran, from whom I drew the title of our design: "High Ground." As I was describing the project to him--which was at that point still in the "brainstorming" phase--Scott remarked that, "a soldier always looks for the high ground." John, Mary, and I are cognizant that the Vinton War Monument is very important to the Town of Vinton, and we look forward to satisfying the expectations of her citizens.