Copyright © 2010 American Institute of Commemorative Art,
Leland B. Longstreth, AICA, Executive Director,
8015 Van Ness Way, Indianapolis IN 46240

Public/Civic Memorials

Placed to commemorate a historic moment in time, the public or civic memorial may be designed to commemorate a battle, war or conflict, or to bring attention to another historic event of our times. Many times a church, or cemetery will desire to erect a feature memorial to bring attention to a religious figure. Both heroes and tragic events have been commemorated with a memorial tribute designed by the members of the AICA.

CENTENNIAL PARK PYRAMID

The historical society wanted to build a park to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the community with a time capsule memorial. The pyramid’s sides have pictures etched of various themes. Featured is an etching of Sidney Breese, the founder of the community. At the top of the pyramid is a separate piece that will be removed when the time capsule is opened in fifty years.

BLUTO STATUE

The City of Chester is home to Elzie Segar, the creator of the Popeye cartoon. Each year the city erects a statue of one of the characters. The statue of Bluto was carved from a small plastic statue provide by the committee. The base is “V” shaped to set on the corner intersection of two major streets and is engraved with general information on the city officials and contributors to the project.

OUR LADY OF THE ANGEL’S

Our Lady of the Angel’s Shrine commemorates the 50th anniversary of the tragic Our Lady of the Angels School fire in 1958. The shrine lists 95 children and nuns who died in the fire. Cardinal Francis George commissioned the designer to build the shrine at the site of the fire. The tear drop shape reflects the tragedy.

VETERAN'S STAR Memorial  

The focus of this tribute to Veterans is the star in the window; representing what so many mothers sewed and displayed when their sons were at war.  The polished tapered opening takes one’s eye to the star and engraving that honors all those who served.  Our soldiers influence is felt around the world as represented by the elliptical shape of the monolith.  Freedom, our soldier’s mission, is shown by the free flowing water that flows over the oval front edge of the water basin carved into the stone below the window.  The water reservoir and pump located deep below the memorial re-circulate the water flow.

Nez Pearce St. Louis Warriors Memorial

In 1837 four Nez Pearce Indians, who had befriended Lewis & Clark on their historic journey, later traveled to visit General Clark at his post near St. Louis, Missouri.  They never returned to their home in Idaho.  This memorial tells their story in over one thousand letters and two interlocking feathers.  The feathers are tied together with a leather band that represents the tribe’s love for their fallen braves.  One feather represents the four who traveled and one feather represents the tribe that they never returned to.