Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
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Building the Memorial
Members of the architectural, engineering, landscape, and construction teams discussed their roles in creating the National World War II Memorial.
This pavilion also featured an exhibition, prepared by the City Museum of Washington, on the planning and building of the Memorial, and the role played by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
List of Participants:
Jose Alvarez (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28)
He is a stone mason/foreman with Pagliaro Brothers Stone Company in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, the stone company responsible for setting all the granite stones for the National World War II Memorial, including the walls, benches, columns, arches, and pavers.
Nick Benson (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28, 30)
Benson is a third-generation stone carver and letterer from the John Stevens Shop in Newport, Rhode Island, founded in 1705. He designed and carved the inscriptions for the National World War II Memorial.
Joanna Blake (Building the Memorial, May 30)
She is a sculptor with Kaskey Studio in Brentwood, Maryland, and part of the artistic team that created the sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Sheila Brady (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28, 30)
Brady is a principal with Oehme, van Sweden and Associates, the Washington-based landscape architecture firm that designed the landscaping for the National World War II Memorial.
Ian Bricknell (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28, 30)
He is a principal with Earth Tech, Inc., the engineering firm responsible for the civil and environmental engineering design for the National World War II Memorial.
Andrew Calhoun (Building the Memorial, May 27)
Calhoun is a model maker with Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Perry Carsley (Building the Memorial, May 30)
He is a sculptor with Kaskey Studio in Brentwood, Maryland, and part of the artistic team that created the sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Doug Christie (Building the Memorial, May 28, 30)
He is an associate with Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers, the engineering firm that designed the foundations and the slurry wall for the National World War II Memorial.
Tom Cooper (Building the Memorial, May 28)
Cooper is a wax worker and metalworker with Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Chris de Ruschi (Building the Memorial, May 30)
He is a metalworker and mold maker with Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
John Downham (Building the Memorial, May 30)
Downham is a sand and metal worker with Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Jason Fowler (Building the Memorial, May 28)
He is a wax worker and metalworker with Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Gary Glowitz (Building the Memorial, May 27)
Glowitz is a metalworker with Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
David Jackman (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28, 30)
He is secretary-treasurer of Valley Bronze of Oregon, the foundry in Joseph, Oregon, that produced the stars, wreaths, ropes, flagpole bases, drainage grates, and victory medals for the National World War II Memorial.
James Johnson (Building the Memorial, May 30)
Johnson is a metalworker with Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Raymond Kaskey (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28, 30)
He is a sculptor and architect, best known for his works of civic art, particularly the large allegorical figures he creates from bronze, copper, and stone. Kaskey designed the sculptures for the National World War II Memorial; and was assisted in the creation of these works by sculptors Aaron Sykes, Perry Carsley, and Joanna Blake from his atelier, Kaskey Studio, Inc.
Mark Lyon (Building the Memorial, May 28)
Lyon is a patina worker with Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Nicolaus Mills (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28, 30)
Mills is a Professor of American Studies at Sarah Lawrence College and is the author of the new book, Their Last Battle: The Fight for the National World War II Memorial.
Joe Moss (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28)
He is an accomplished stone carver and letterer from Annapolis, Maryland. He worked with Nick Benson of the John Stevens Shop to carve the inscriptions for the National World War II Memorial.
Sherry Murphy (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28)
She is a project manager with Pagliaro Brothers Stone Company in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, the stone company responsible for setting all the granite stones for the National World War II Memorial, including the walls, benches, columns, arches, and pavers.
Patrick Oakes (Building the Memorial, May 28)
Oakes is executive vice president of Apex Piping Systems in Newport, Delaware, the company that provided the stainless steel armatures that support the Memorial's monumental bronze eagles and laurel wreath. Apex also helped install the finished sculptures inside the Memorial arches.
Chris Orapello (Building the Memorial, May 27)
He is a metal and wax worker with Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Antonio C. Ramos (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28, 30)
Ramos is founder and president of New England Stone in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, the company responsible for quarrying and fabricating the granite and preparing shop drawings, shop tickets, and templates for the stones for the National World War II Memorial.
Jose Ernesto Ramos (Building the Memorial, May 27)
He is a mold maker with Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
John Rose (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28, 30)
Rose is the plant manager at Rock of Ages, a stone company in Graniteville, Vermont, responsible for fabricating the National World War II Memorial's Atlantic and Pacific Arches and the two hand-carved eagles installed in the entrance to the Memorial's ceremonial walkways.
Friedrich St. Florian (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28)
Florian, a distinguished professor and former dean of the Rhode Island School of Design, is the design architect for the National World War II Memorial. His design was selected from more than 400 entries in a nationwide competition conducted by the General Services Administration and the American Battle Monuments Commission.
John Stephenson (Building the Memorial, May 28)
He is a shell and wax worker with Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Aaron Sykes (Building the Memorial, May 30)
Sykes is a sculptor who was part of the artistic team that created the sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Ken Terry (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28, 30)
He is the project manager for Tompkins-Grunley/Walsh Joint Venture, the general contractor for the National World War II Memorial.
James van Sweden (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28, 30)
He is president of Oehme, van Sweden and Associates, the Washington-based landscape architecture firm that designed the landscaping for the National World War II Memorial.
John M. Vlach (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28, 30)
Vlach is Professor of American Studies and Anthropology and Director of the Folklife Program at George Washington University. He is the author of ten books on American art, architecture, and traditional communities. His most recent volumes include Back of the Big House and The Planter's Prospect.
Allen Ward (Building the Memorial, May 28)
He is the production manager at Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Ben Weaver (Building the Memorial, May 27)
Weaver is a mold maker and metalworker with Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Kent Weaver (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28, 30)
He is the production manager at Valley Bronze of Oregon, the foundry in Joseph, Oregon, that produced the stars, wreaths, ropes, flagpole bases, drainage grates, and victory medals for the National World War II Memorial.
Larry Welker (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28)
He is co-owner of Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Randy Welker (Building the Memorial, May 30)
Welker is co-owner of Laran Bronze, the foundry in Chester, Pennsylvania, responsible for crafting the eight eagles, the ribbons supporting two laurel wreaths, and 24 bas-relief sculptures for the National World War II Memorial.
Darren Zehner (Building the Memorial, May 27, 28, 30)
He is an associate with Leo A. Daly, the Washington-based architecture and engineering firm that served as the architect-engineer for the National World War II Memorial.
