Founder's Statement
All Who Serve Sacrifice
Some Who Serve Sacrifice All
Welcome to the Veterans Wall of Honor, honoring all veterans of our Armed Forces who have served in peace and war since the Revolutionary War. In the spring of 2001 Leonard Eisert, one of the founding Directors, presented the idea for a monument to a group of six (6) interested veterans. Out of that meeting was formed the Veterans Council. The Veterans Council of Northwest Arkansas was incorporated in the State of Arkansas in 2001 and is a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization. The Council broke ground on October 1, 2003 and dedicated this impressive structure on November 6, 2004 before a huge crowd headed by the late Lt. Governor Winthrop Rockefeller.
A visitor, after passing under the massive arch, will note the 36-foot time line, displaying major military events from 1776 to 2006. On the walls to the right and left rear, one finds 63 bronze historical plaques summarizing events displayed on the time line. The monument is circled by 18 historical flags. As the visitor proceeds inside, he sees the beautiful fountain and is amazed by the 4,167 incised veterans' tablets mounted on the 24 walls. One of the major objectives of the Veterans Council is to inform school groups and the general public of the contributions made by our veterans to secure our nation's freedoms. The Council is also a partner in the Veteran's History Project sponsored by the Folklife Center in the Library of Congress.
Architect's Statement
The architectural process enables man's primal need to create forms that outlive us. Forms that reflect and honor the human purpose and celebrate the constant renewal of our existence.
This monument employs the circular enclosure as the form that historically has offered safe keeping for those contained within and currently for those honored here.
The introduction to this monument is through an entrance arch where the visitor is directed toward three concentric circular walls. Walls disposed to reveal in sequence: a time line of military events from the country's inception to the present, a graphic elaboration of those events, and a graphic review of military symbols and inceptive statements.
Granite tablets containing engraved names and service reference of these veterans are mounted on the inner face of all circular walls. Focus of the tableau is directed to the central gathering area where visitors can reflect on the service and sacrifices made throughout our military history. The visitor-observer then becomes the observed by that focus, becomes one with those honored and accepts their dedication as his own.
A bubbling fountain at the center of the gathering area suggests a constant vigil preserving and protecting the process and spirit of our free society...
Leonard V. Watten
Architect-Director
Veteran's Wall of Honor
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