Proposed wall and statue memorial for Sunken Gardens would honor veterans from the area who died in wars By Nick Wilson nwilson@thetribunenews.com
With a focus on honoring past sacrifices and supporting troops in battle now and in the future, a committee is mulling over plans for a war memorial in Atascadero’s Sunken Gardens.
The 14-member committee hopes to see a wall of granite or
marble and a bronze statue featuring a modern-day U.S. Marine erected by Nov. 11, Veterans Day, 2007.
The wall would honor veterans from within the Atascadero Unified School District’s boundaries who lost their lives serving for the country.
"I think we in America and Atascadero should recognize the sacrifice of our veterans," said Col. Bill Hatch, the committee chairman. "If we don’t, those serving will lose the will to defend themselves and the country."
The $200,000 project will require private donations.
The committee, which formed in March, includes Atascadero City Councilmen Jerry Clay and Tom O’Malley, who is also mayor, as well as military representatives and residents.
Clay said the project will likely need approval from Atascadero’s Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council. The project has not been submitted for review, though it has been talked about with members of the local political bodies.
The exact size and location of the memorial are yet to be finalized. But the committee reports the statue will be sculpted by Atascadero artist Mark Greenaway, who created the bronze of a parent and child with a lamb at the entrance of the Paso Robles Event Center.
Atascadero’s Veterans of Foreign Wars group is researching the veterans it hopes to honor. The committee is aware of eight local military members killed in World War II and eight in Vietnam, according to committee member Lon Allan, who is also a Tribune columnist.
It isn’t known how many Iraq war or Desert Storm veterans with Atascadero roots died in action. Glenn Sawyer, post commander for the veterans group, is encouraging locals to contact him with names.
"We want to make sure and find out about everyone," Hatch said. "It would be a shame if somebody was left out."
The fundraising for the project has not yet begun. But committee members O’Malley, Clay and Leroy Dodge have each contributed $500.
The committee expects some of the funding to come from bricks that people or organizations could buy. The bricks will provide for engravings and make the pathway to the memorial.
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 | | Marble | MARBLE: CHARACTERISTICS
This standard includes general information on the characteristics
and common uses of marble and identifies typical problems
associated with the material.
INTRODUCTION
Marble is an extremely hard, metamorphic stone composed of calcite
(CaCO3). It is formed as a result of the recrystallization of
limestone under the intense pressure and heat of geologic
processes. The effect of this process is the creation of a stone
with a very tight crystalline structure and small but definite
porosity. Because of its structure, marble can take a very high
polish and is a very popular decorative stone for architectural and
sculptural uses. The limited porosity of marble, especially
polished marble, makes it less vulnerable to the leaching effects
of water. Calcium carbonate, however, of which marble is composed,
is highly susceptible to attack by acidic agents. Marble is
readily dissolved by acids, even very dilute acids, however the
actual results of acidic exposure will vary with the nature of the
acid. Chlorides, nitrates, sulfates and other chemical compounds
react differently with marble and produce various by-products,
which have a wide range of solubility and impact on the durability
of marble. For this reason, it is always important to determine
the exact type of pollutants causing marble deterioration.
Marble itself can be of two types, one composed of calcite and the
other of dolomite. Dolomitic marble is much more resistant to acid
attack than calcite marble. The color of marble ranges from the
brilliant white of calcite to black, including blue-gray, red,
yellow and green, depending upon the mineral composition.
TYPICAL USES
Marble has many decorative and structural uses. It is used for
outdoor sculpture as well as for sculpture bases; in architecture
it is used in exterior walls and veneers, flooring, decorative
features, stairways and walkways. The way in which the stone is
used may be a factor in limiting or controlling the severity of
exposure. The use or function of the marble may also affect the
feasibility of applying certain treatments, but type of use is not
the primary factor in the major types of deterioration and damage
to which marble is susceptible. | |  |
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Linear Mode
