THE OFFICIAL WEBPAGE

OF ROBERT D. WEST

Afghan-Iraqi Freedom Memorial

On Veterans Day, November 11, 2006, a new Afghan-Iraqi Freedom Memorial was unveiled in Salem, Oregon near the Oregon Veterans' Building. An official groundbreaking had taken place on the previous Veterans Day, but construction did not actually begin until September 2006.

The design of the memorial consists of a large pool depicting a map of the world. A column-like pedestal sits on the America's place on the map. On top of the pedestal sits a statue of a soldier on one knee, reaching out to the rest of the world.

Here is the statue before the unveiling. There have been some changes to the design. Originally, the column was to bear the seals of each branch of the Armed Forces.

This wider view shows more of the map in the fountain pool. More changes include the design of the fountain. The original design had rows of water jets depicting the Equator, Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. As built, there are groups of small jets, with a large central fountain.

This wall was also covered for the unveiling, though it was obviously a wall of names.

Here is a view of the covered statue from the other direction.

An Oregon Army National Guard helicopter flying over during the ceremony.

Governor Ted Kulongoski approaching the memorial to watch the unveiling. I believe the woman with him is M.J. Kesterson, who started the movement for the memorial after her son Erik died in Iraq in November 2003. (I had picked out a spot on the edge of the fountain near the wall of names from which to watch the statue be unveiled and the fountain started. As it happened, Governor Kulongoski must have though it was a good spot too, and stood right next to me as the statue was uncovered and the fountain was started.)

Here are two videos from the ceremony.

This video is the unveiling of the statue

This video is the fountain starting up for the first time. Listen carefully to hear Governor Kulongoski's reaction.

Here are pictures of the memorial statue and fountain after the ceremony. The groups of  small jets actually produce a mist. The central fountain was not part of the original plan, and appears much larger than originally intended.

This is the unveiled wall of names. There is a lot of empty space on the wall for additional names, since the conflicts aren't over.

Governor Kulongoski posing with the people responsible for the memorial.

Related Links

Afghan-Iraqi Freedom War Memorial Fund

Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs

Oregon Military Department

Oregon Office of the Governor

Also See:

Flags of Honor

Last Voyage of the USS Missouri

All website content, including graphics and pictures are © Robert D. West unless otherwise noted.  Content is not to be used out of the context of this webpage without expressed permission.  Any opinions expressed herein are mine and are not necessarily shared by the Milwaukee School of Engineering, or anyone else.

Questions? Comments? Critiques? Corrections? Concerns? Email me at westr@msoe.edu.