Insight NewsletterSummer 2014

© 2014 Coldspring. All rights reserved.

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Vietnam Veterans Memorial Comes to Midwest

For many veterans of the Vietnam Conflict, traveling to Washington, D.C. to view the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a difficult prospect. The obstacles of long-distance travel, financial expense and the sheer logistics of such a trip for many veterans and their families often prove too much to overcome. Siouxland Freedom Park in South Sioux City, Nebraska, has made it possible for many Americans to see this important monument closer to home. In May of 2014, a half-scale Vietnam

Veterans Memorial wall was dedicated at Siouxland Freedom Park to memorialize fallen U.S. veterans and give surviving veterans the opportunity to see the wall in the Midwest without having to travel to Washington, D.C.

The 55-acre Siouxland Freedom Park lies along the banks of the Missouri River in Nebraska. When the park initiated the half-scale Vietnam Veterans Memorial project, Luken Memorials of Sioux City was brought in during the planning stage.

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Vietnam Veterans Memorial Comes to Midwest

“The park wanted a memorial that would be a true half-scale, high-quality model of the original Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C.,” said Bob Luken of Luken Memorials. Luken Memorials called on longtime partner Coldspring to assist with securing the granite, fabricating the panels and engraving the 58,272 names of fallen soldiers. Coldspring had the capacity and processes to accommodate the large-scale scope of the project.

Through hours of research, Luken Memorials located the Raven Black granite used in Washington and the quarry from which it came. Coldspring secured the 483 cubic feet in 146 pieces of granite for the project and began coordinating the best design for the memorial, working within the park’s budget.

“After consulting with Coldspring, we decided on false joints for the panels, which would allow for fewer pieces to set and ease of installation,” said Luken.

The wall panels are a thinner granite than the original, but the project achieves the same look and feel of the original within the

budget requirements. Coldspring created the engineered drawings and all of the foundation and anchoring specs.

“In the end, we decided to raise the memorial off the ground three feet so it would be more easily viewed,” said Luken. “Even people in wheelchairs will have an easier time seeing the names.”

Siouxland Freedom Park needed a carefully designed structure to hold and anchor the heavy granite panels for the memorial. The decision was made to use LiteForm insulating concrete forms to construct the concrete base for the memorial. LiteForm eliminates a lot of freeze-thaw issues with concrete, as the foam and concrete structures reduce the

“Coldspring was extremely helpful. Working with them was wonderful. There was no rock unturned and everything was done systematically.”

Bob Luken Luken Memorials

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frost heaves often found in solid concrete foundations.

Beyond determining the best base for the panels, coordinating more than 58,000 names was one of the most challenging aspects of the project. Coldspring coordinated with the Department of Defense to obtain the names, and each name was engraved and positioned in the exact location as on the memorial in Washington.

“I worked with Coldspring on a daily basis for months, going back and forth with the names, making sure each one was in the correct location,” said Luken. “It was important to have a true replica of the original wall in Washington. Coldspring did a flawless job.”

To engrave the names, Coldspring used a very detailed carving process available at only a few fabrication facilities in the United States.

“Coldspring was extremely helpful,” said Luken. “Working with them was wonderful. There was no rock unturned and everything was done systematically.”

The park will continue its expansion over the next decade, with plans for additional memorials to include a pentagon-shaped interpretive center, a memorial war dog park, and replicas of the Korean War, World War II and other monuments on the National Mall.

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Demand continues to drive designCustomers have long been one of the best sources of new product ideas and interpretation at Coldspring. It should come as no surprise then that Coldspring’s latest memorialization offering is a direct result of those shared insights.

We are excited to announce the introduction of the Majestic Grace design as part of our bronze memorial product line.

The beautiful Majestic Grace design is available as a 24” x 14” bronze, and provides the option of the sculpted Angel on the left or right side.

For more information contact your Regional Sales Representative

Introducing the new Majestic Grace bronze design

GB-457 right side Majestic Grace shown on a Mesabi

Black® granite base

GB-457 left side Majestic Grace

We realize that it is hard for your customers to visualize what the finalized product will look like without the aid of samples and pictures. That is why we are committed to giving you a strong set of product catalogs, brochures, display systems, and an on-line memorial selection system. With your help and feedback, we have re-branded and re-packaged our Memorial Tool Kit to better fit your needs. The new tool kit offers:

The Showcase Design Guidebook – an 8 ½ x 11 binder that features several different bronze on granite memorial options organized according to size and style

Point of Sale brochures featuring several different designs, sizes, styles, bronze colors, granite colors and personalization options including emblems, verses, portraits and vases

Updated Merchandising Display Systems featuring the new DuraFinish™

Personal Reflections®, the Coldspring online memorial selection system

Re-branded Gallery of Designs book

This complete tool kit provides you with the solutions you need to best serve families. Contact your Coldspring Regional Sales Representative at 800.328.5040 for additional details or to request your new kit.

Introducing the new Coldspring Memorial Tool Kit

Gallery of DesignsShowcase: Memorial Design Guidebook

17482 Granite West Road Cold Spring, MN 56320

T: 800.328.5040 F: 320.685.8490

www.coldspringusa.com

FOLLOW US:

Monument Builders of the Carolinas September 26 - 27 Landmark Resort Myrtle Beach, SC

Catholic Cemetery Conference September 30 - October 3, 2014 Island B Meadowlands Exposition Center Newark, NJ

NFDA International Convention & Expo October 12 - 15, 2014 Booth #2445 Music City Center Nashville, TN

Point of Sale brochures

Showcase: Memorial Design Guidebook