National Veterans Shrine and Register of Honor at the American Village
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NATIONAL VETERANS SHRINE AND REGISTER OF HONOR AT THE AMERICAN VILLAGE DEDICATION CEREMONIES — FEBRUARY 17, 2014 1 The Art and Sculpture of the National Veterans Shrine The art and sculpture of the National Veterans Shrine is intended to honor the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans and active military. The entire collection is made possible through private support from a generous friend of the American Village. Sculptures by Robert Shure of Woburn, Massachusetts On the cover: Liberty Uniting the Colonies The heroic figure of Liberty in the plaza of Independence Circle is in forward motion, drawing the colonies together in common cause. Liberty’s rod evokes two historical themes: the base of the rod is inspired by Moses being commanded by God to throw his rod upon the ground where it became a snake, and upon further command, picking up the snake and it being transformed to a rod again. In this sculpture, the lower part of the rod is inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s depiction of a segmented snake representing America’s thirteen original British colonies, admonished by Franklin to “Join or Die.” Here by Providence the snake has become a rod, an instrument for procuring liberty for the people. In her right hand Liberty holds high a lantern from which brightly shines what Washington called “the sacred fire of liberty.” Her feet have just crushed the monarch’s crown and sword; the chains of slavery are before her, not yet trampled upon, but clearly in her path to vanquish. Within the base of this statue is enshrined hallowed ground secured from battle monuments around the world where Americans have fought and many given their lives for our country and its liberty. Liberty Embracing the Fallen The sculptor captures a poignant moment as Liberty beholds one of her own: this fallen young soldier of the American Revolution’s Continental Army. Lying upon a bier, the soldier’s mortal wound is now bandaged, his knapsack hangs to his side and his tricorn hat has fallen to the ground. Liberty has set down her lantern nearby, and touches his face and clutches her heart. Her stoic and determined countenance is pierced by her tears of grief. The altar or table of repose is patterned after the architecture of a 1788 Philadelphia engraving of “The Temple of Liberty.” The base is inscribed with the national motto, In God We Trust, a form of which appeared in Francis Scott Key’s Star-Spangled Banner of 1814: “Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, and this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’” Here the fallen represents men and women in every generation who have given their lives for our country and its liberty. Liberty represents not only our country, but also the loved ones and fellow comrades who both mourn their loss and honor the memory of the departed. Continued on page 18 American Village Citizenship Trust National Veterans Shrine and Register of Honor Dr. Cathy J. Randall, Chair, Board of Trustees Thomas G. Walker, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer University of Montevallo Wind Ensemble Conducted by Dr. Joseph P. Ardovino Professor of Music and Director of Bands University of Montevallo Concert Choir Conducted by Dr. Melinda S. Doyle Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities The University of Alabama Army and Air Force ROTC Cadets * The Audience will please stand THE DEDICATION CEREMONY PRELUDE Patriotic Songs concluding with Liberty Fanfare John Williams (b. 1932) University of Montevallo Wind Ensemble CALL TO CONVOCATION Fanfare for the Common Man Aaron Copland (1900-1990) University of Montevallo Wind Ensemble Procession of the Platform Party Introduction Thomas G. Walker, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer Traditional Ringing of the Bell in Honor of the Original Thirteen Colonies Christopher Long, Historical Interpreter and Director of Military Programs WELCOME Dr. Cathy J. Randall, Chair, Board of Trustees HONORS TO THE NATION * Pledge of Allegiance * Led by Eagle Scout Brandon Beers National Anthem: The Star Spangled Banner * Francis Scott Key (1779-1843) University of Montevallo Concert Choir Accompanied by the University Wind Ensemble INVOCATION * United States Air Force Colonel (Ret.) Roosevelt Lewis, Member, Board of Trustees * 3 CHORAL ACCLAMATION This is the Day John Rutter (b. 1945) The Concert Choir From: Psalms 118: 24; 148: 1-3, 5a; 91: 4a, 11; 121: 5-8; 27: 16b This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it. O praise the Lord of heav'n: praise Him in the height. Praise Him, all ye angels of his: praise Him, all his host. Praise Him, sun and moon: praise Him, all ye stars and light. Let them praise the Name of the Lord. For He shall give His angels charge over thee: to keep thee in all thy ways. The Lord himself is thy keeper: the Lord is thy defense upon thy right hand; so that the sun shall not burn thee by day: neither the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: yea, it is even He that shall keep thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in: from this time forth for evermore. He shall defend thee under His wings. Be strong, and He shall comfort thine heart, and put thou thy trust in the Lord. GREETINGS Dr. Annette Shelby Honorable Kay Ivey, Lieutenant Governor Honorable Mary A. Bomar, 17th Director (Ret.), United States National Park Service, and National Advisor to the American Village Citizenship Trust INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKER Gordon G. Martin, Deputy Chair, Board of Trustees REMARKS Honorable Jeff Sessions, United States Senator ENSHRINEMENT OF HALLOWED GROUND Introduction Mr. Walker Presentation of Hallowed Ground Honorable Spencer Bachus, United States Representative, Sixth District Reception of Hallowed Ground Honorable Tom Butler, Founding Board Chair and Trustee Concurrently: Hymn to the Fallen John Williams Wind Ensemble and University Choir Procession University of Alabama Army and Air Force ROTC Cadets Transmittal of the Soils of American Battle Monuments around the World Alabama Members of the United States Congress 4 Enshrinement of the Soils Dr. Randall and Members of the Board of Trustees, American Village Citizenship Trust Laying of Wreaths Introductions by Mr. Walker Wreath of the United States Senate Senator Jeff Sessions joined by Dr. Shelby Wreath of the United States House of Representatives Congressman Spencer Bachus joined by Members of Congress Wreath of the Alabama State Senate Lieutenant Governor Ivey joined by Members of the State Senate Wreath of the Alabama House of Representatives House Speaker Mike Hubbard joined by Members of the State House of Representatives Taps * Daniel Butterfield (1831-1901) Dr. Ardovino FORMAL DEDICATION OF THE NATIONAL VETERANS SHRINE AND REGISTER OF HONOR The Veterans Living Legacy Mr. Walker Dedication Dr. Randall Response Lieutenant General David S. Fadok Commander and President, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama Affirmation Lieutenant Governor Ivey America, the Beautiful Katherine Lee Bates (1859-1929) University Choir and Wind Ensemble The audience will please join in singing as directed by Dr. Doyle O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife. Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine! 5 O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! CLOSING OF CONVOCATION Invitation to Afternoon Activities Mr. Walker Washington’s Prayer for Our Country William Stewart, Officer, Interpreted Programs, portraying Patrick Henry Choral Benediction The Lord Bless You and Keep You John Rutter University Choir The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make His face to shine upon you, To shine upon you and be gracious, And be gracious unto you. The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make His face to shine upon you, To shine upon you and be gracious, And be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, And give you peace, and give you peace, And give you peace, and give you peace, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen. The convocation is adjourned immediately following the Choral Benediction. Guests are cordially invited to Participate in Afternoon Activities: Washington’s Birthday Cake and Celebration - Constitution Green Colonial Encampment - Constitution Green Music in the Lucille Ryals Thompson Colonial Chapel How to Register a Veteran in the Register of Honor - Estes Theatre Overview of American Village Educational Programs - Meeting House Ringing of the Bell to Honor Veterans - Liberty Bell Garden Preview Tours of the National Veterans Shrine and Register of Honor Open House throughout the Village 6 Hallowed Ground France Aisne-Marne American Cemetery Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery Oise-Aisne American Cemetery Saint-Mihiel American Cemetery Somme American Cemetery Suresnes American Cemetery Brittany American Cemetery Normandy American Cemetery Epinal American Cemetery Lorraine American Cemetery Rhone American Cemetery Belgium Flanders Field American Cemetery Ardennes American Cemetery Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery Italy In Memoriam Florence American Cemetery On July 4, 2012 ground was broken for Sicily-Rome American Cemetery the National Veterans Shrine England and Register of Honor. Brookwood American Cemetery Cambridge American Cemetery We remember with thanksgiving two of the United States veterans who Luxembourg participated in that ceremony and who Luxembourg American Cemetery had close ties to the American Village.