This monument was commissioned by IUP Fraternity Rho Tau Chi (PTX), Original Design by Anthony Bookhammer, Bronze Inlay: Cicely Murray, Management and Construction: IUP Sculpture Area led by Professor Sean Derry, Heather Kaiser and a number of student volunteers and IUP Facilities. Additional support by Indiana Marble & Granite, RSM Metal, and Shoemaker Monuments. This is the first monument designed and constructed entirely by students at IUP.
The monument stands across from the flag, outside the Humanities Building at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The inscription on the back two panels read: “ON SHOULDERS OF COURAGE” “WE STAND FREE”. It commemorates veterans of the Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF, Iraq), and Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF, Afghanistan). The granite used for this monument is the same black granite used for the Vietnam Veteran’s memorial in Washington D.C. The additional materials include, bronze, steel, hardware, cement board, screws, and industrial strength adhesive. Unveiled 11 Nov 2018 (Veteran’s Day).
This is an image of the inlay design which was sculpted by Cicely Murray. The rubber mold, wax cast, and investment mold, was done by Sean Derry, and me. Multiple bronze pours were required to complete this and we had a host of people helping us, including Steve Soltez, Tyler Gaston, and Angel Manzueta.
This is an 8 foot substructure that was welded with angle and flat bar. This is the structure that is sitting on the footer and underneath the granite. This was welded by Sean Derry, Steven Soltez and myself.
Sample of some of my welds on the outside structure.
This is a top view of the substructure looking down.
Once covered with cement board, each face of the monument substructure we made markings for the location of each pilot hole and final screw location. This job was completed by me, Sean Derry, Jenn Milkey, and Sheila Swartz.
This is the monument substructure with cement board screwed directly into the steel bars. Thin set mortar was applied to this layer and then the granite was set directly on top of it.
This is an image of the monument substructure screwed into place. We had one front cement board panel removed and ran a 8 ft long piece of all thread that screwed into a bolt in the cement footer and then bolted to a metal frame that Sean Derry and I fabricated together.
This is the original design sculpted by Cicely Murray. We ultimately cast this in bronze for the inlay.