Faces of War Memorial is a Vietnam War memorial located in Roswell, Georgia, in the United States. It is located on the grounds of Roswell City Hall[2] and was dedicated on Memorial Day on May 29, 1995.[3]
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| 34°01′21″N 84°21′40″W / 34.0225°N 84.3610°W | |
| Location | Roswell, Georgia, United States |
|---|---|
| Designer | Teena Stern, Don Haugen, and Zachary Henderson |
| Type | War memorial |
| Width | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Height | 14 ft (4.3 m) |
| Dedicated date | May 29, 1995[1] |
| Dedicated to | Veterans of the Vietnam War |
The monument has a height of 14 ft (4.3 m) and a width of 20 ft (6.1 m). The monument is made of brick enclosing a sculpted bronze centerpiece topped with a capstone made of Georgia marble.[4] The bronze-cast centerpiece depicts a soldier reaching for the outstretched hand of a small girl, surrounded by background of fifty faces, all variously displaying a range of emotions. A thin cascade of water flows over the faces from the top of the monument.[1]
A Memorial Day ceremony is held annually at the Faces of War Memorial[5] which began in 1998,[6] though it was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] Roswell's annual Memorial Day ceremony is the largest Memorial Day event in the state of Georgia.[8]
The monument was designed by local architect Zachary Henderson,[9] and the bronze-cast centerpiece of the monument was sculpted by local husband-and-wife sculptors Don Haugen and Teena Stern.[1]
History
editThe idea for the memorial was conceived in 1990 by a small group of local veterans.[1] The group coordinated fundraising efforts for the monument, which included benefit concerts and selling inscribed bricks which would be laid on both the monument itself as well as along the walkway leading to the monument.[10][11] A miniature model of the finalized design of the memorial was unveiled at a fundraising auction in 1993.[12]
Construction of the monument began in mid-1994,[11] and was completed at a cost of $150,000 and formally dedicated on Memorial Day on May 29, 1995.[9][3] The dedication ceremony included a commemoration speech by Georgia's Secretary of State Max Cleland,[9] as well as helicopter and fighter jet flyovers in a missing man formation.[13][14]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Hulbert, Dan (July 20, 1995). "Roswell's 'Faces of War': Vietnam memorial so touching to visitors that they create tiny shrines from mementos". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp. G1. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hurd, Hatcher (May 18, 2006). "Roswell remembers hometown heroes". Alpharetta and Roswell Revue & News. Appen Newspapers Inc. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
- ^ a b Stepp, Diane R. (May 25, 1995). "War memorial dedication Monday". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Faces of War Memorial". Roswell Memorial Day. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
- ^ "Roswell's Faces of War Memorial gift from men who faced war". Alpharetta-Roswell Herald. May 31, 2010. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
- ^ Grochowski, Julia (May 28, 2019). "Roswell Rotary honors veterans". Alpharetta-Roswell Herald. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
- ^ Kickliter, Kathryn (May 30, 2020). "Memorial honors those who served in Vietnam and their families". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Photos: The 75th Roswell Memorial Day Ceremony". Fox 5 Atlanta. May 27, 2019. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- ^ a b c Rankin, Bill (May 30, 1995). "Paying tribute: Metro Atlantans salute nation's heroes". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp. B1. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Stepp, Diane R. (April 13, 1995). "Sweat and tears taking form as brick and marble". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp. J1, J3. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Stepp, Diane R. (May 26, 1994). "Vietnam memorial gaining ground: Holiday ceremony to mark beginning of Roswell monument's construction". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp. J1, J3. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Stepp, Diane R. (September 23, 1993). "Memorial model to be unveiled". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp. H11. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Holzer, Helen (May 29, 1995). "Another memorial". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. pp. C2. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "You are invited to the 23rd annual "Roswell Remembers" Memorial Day Event". Dunwoody Rotary. Rotary Club of Dunwoody. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.