RICHLAND, Wash. – A bronze sculpture at Washington State University Tri-Cities that symbolizes support for veterans will be dedicated at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, by Washington First Gentleman Mike Gregoire and WSU President Elson S. Floyd.The veterans monument, “Stories,” was designed by local artist Tom McClelland to look like an open book that has been left outside and hit by a Columbia Basin dust devil, whirling five pages more than 10 feet into the air. The comments etched in bronze on the pages were submitted by student veterans and their loved ones.
The public is invited to the dedication ceremony on the grassy area at the corner of Sprout Road and Crimson Way, within view of the Columbia River. The site is outside the East Building at 2710 Crimson Way, Richland.
The monument is intended to emphasize that veterans and their goals for higher education are supported and that veterans are not alone. Veterans make up eight percent of the student body this fall at WSU Tri-Cities, which was recognized by the state Department of Veterans Affairs in May 2011 as a Veteran Supportive Campus and is listed as a Military-Friendly School by G.I. Jobs magazine.
“I don’t want other veterans to feel the way I felt when I got out of the service,” said Scott Dawson, past-president of the veterans student organization. “When I had first got out of the Marines, I didn’t really know many veterans. It is a difficult transition from being a Marine to being a civilian.”
The veterans student organization took the lead on raising money and in-kind donations for the sculpture, which cost about $35,000, plus installation and site development. Donors include Randolph Construction Services, Columbia Engineers LLC, Columbia Center Rotary Club and Ice Harbor Pub and Brewery.
The memorial is made of bronze with stainless steel supports. It was poured at the T. Hunter Bronze foundry in Walla Walla. Site design calls for several more phases to install seating areas and sidewalks.
WSU Tri-Cities is located along the scenic Columbia River in Richland, Wash. Established in 1989 with upper division and graduate programs, WSU Tri-Cities expanded in 2007 to a four-year undergraduate campus offering 18 bachelor’s, 10 master’s and six doctoral degree programs. Learn about the most diverse campus in the WSU system at www.tricity.wsu.edu.