Started to work on revisions to the handout piece. It needs to tell the story simply and with a passion. I am a visual artist and graphic designer, so the writing part does not come easy. After many revisions and having a few people looking it over, here is what I have.
The Mission: “To construct a living, interactive memorial in Beaverton,
Oregon’s Memorial Park to HONOR our patriot forefathers who served or assisted
the colonies during the Revolutionary War and to EDUCATE our children and the
future generations about the American Revolution and the price and
responsibilities of FREEDOM.”
The memorial that has been planned to honor our nation’s
Revolutionary War history has gone through several name and design changes
because of changing building regulations.
As the design evolved, the concept grew from just another
static “Memorial Wall” to a living, breathing interactive memorial bringing
history to life through modern technology. The scope will be broader, including
contributions by community partners, all sharing the goals of education,
service and patriotism.
While the memorial will continue to be spearheaded by the Lewis
& Clark Chapter and the Oregon Sons of the American Revolution, it can also
boast patriotic materials and stories from partner organizations like the
American Legion, local and state historical and genealogical societies, Oregon
State Daughters of the American Revolution, Children of the American Revolution
and local service organizations.
The new vision congealed
into a two-part memorial, the first part is the physical memorial in the Beaverton
Memorial Park. Comprising of eight walls arranged in the shape of the snake from
the “Unite or Die” flag. The walls are set into a concrete floor with the snake
symbol and the phrase “We the People” etched deep into it. The second part of the memorial is the stored
information with the ability to update, change and improve that information and
store it for retrieval by anyone, anywhere at any time.
- Etched into the bottom of the blood red granite walls
are the names of the Patriots who served or assisted the colonies during the
Revolutionary War and whose ancestors are members of the Oregon Sons of the
American Revolution or the Oregon State Daughters of the American Revolution. Next
to the list is a QR code that when you scan it on your mobile device, it takes
you to a web page that has the biographies of those Patriots. It also has links
to DAR and SAR databases where you can get more information, and see if maybe
you are related to a Patriot.
- Sections of journal pages written by the men who
were fighting at Valley Forge, the Hudson River area and Yorktown as an example
will be etched into the walls. QR codes again link to more journals, and to historical
and genealogical society libraries not only in Oregon, but across the United
States.
- A graphic yearly timeline from the Boston
Massacre March 5, 1770 to June 21, 1788 when the Constitution was ratified. The
information etched above the timeline is the dates of some of the major battles
fought, and the information below the timeline is major events in the lives of
the people that influenced the battles. Scan the QR codes to get to more
information and links on the events.
- Etched images and writings of everyday life of
the colonists; clothes, toys, what they ate and what their homes and business
looked like. QR codes again take you to more information and links, while you
are still standing in front of the memorial in Beaverton.
- Let’s not forget about those Patriots. Life size
images cast in bronze of a Minuteman, a Militia soldier and a Continental
soldier.
- In the corner, a
raised dais containing several revolutionary war flags, flags our patriots fought
and died under both on land and sea, are flying in the breeze adding color and
life to the memorial. Along the front of the dais etched into the red granite
is the Oregon Revolutionary War Memorial logo along with the words “Together
we are strong”.
Connect with us:
www.orwm.org
www.orevwarmem.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/orwm.memorial www.instagram.com/orevwarmemorial
Email: info@orwm.org
- Compatriot Michael Tieman
