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As more
and more people visit our Memorial Park the commission
decided that a sign was needed to help direct people to the
park and to insure them that they were at the right place
once the arrived. Our architect was asked to design a sign
to fit our needs and find a place in our park where it could
be placed. At the next commission meeting he submitted a
drawing and it was adopted with very little discussion.
Two large granite slabs which would be engraved
with our parks name were ordered. A round granite column was
also ordered at the same time to display a Battlefield Cross
which has been talked about for two years but could not be
agreed upon as to where it should be placed within the park.
Also two bronze purple hearts were wanted so that they
could be placed on the inside wall of our sign.
After searching for sculptors and artists for
the battle cross; Andrew Chernak of Coventry Pewter in
Springfield Pa. was contacted and asked if he would make
this bronze statue for our park. In mid March 2007 ideas
were exchanged and an agreement had been reached. The
Battlefield Cross was now in production. Keeping in contact
with park officials, Andrew announced in mid Sept 2007 that
the statue was finished and ready for delivery. At the
exact time that our statue was completed Viet Now was
holding a gold star mothers banquet in Philadelphia.
Permission was granted to display our field cross on the
speakers podium. The first public’s display of our Field
Cross was on 29 Sept. 2007 at this banquet. On Oct 4th
it was placed on the granite pedestal in our Veterans
Memorial Park.
The two purple hearts were made in Louisiana by
Don Baker of Plaques and Letters. Less than 2 months after
contacting Don the bronze plaques were on there way to
Dixon. The colors match the colors of the official Purple
Heart.
With the walls and columns in place, the purple
hearts attached to the walls, and the Battlefield cross on
top of the column, the only thing left to do was light the
sign at night. Eight flood lights were purchased and had
been sitting in boxes waiting for installation.
A twelve foot pathway of Legacy stones will lead
visitors up to the Field Cross and Purple hearts. Lights
have been installed to make the sign visible at night to
traveling motorists. The inside walls are also lit at night
for park visitors walking thru the park. Even at night a
visitor could get the full effect of the Field Cross and
Purple Hearts.
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