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Don Boon began building road to Persian Gulf Tribute site on Friday, November 4, 2011
Design pictures of the Persian Gulf Tribute coming to The Highground
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Persian Gulf Committee Summer Newsletter article dated: May 2011
T H E B O O T P R I N T
A Persian Gulf Tribute
The request to participate in a design competition that would pay tribute to those Americans serving in the Persian Gulf conflicts, was received in the office of Blue Design Group in the summer of 2008. This request from The Highground included; a description, design parameters and a mission statement for the Persian Gulf Tribute. This mission statement read:
“To build with honor a tribute for all branches of America’s Military who served around the world beginning with Desert Storm, through multiple Middle East conflicts, while marching forward in the Global War on Terrorism. May we establish a place of hope so that we do not walk past you but with you. Let this site be an anchor for education and solace while securing in memory sacrifices made. With hope and prayer the Persian Gulf Tribute will provide a safe haven for all to reflect and to heal.”
After reviewing the materials and mission statement, some time passed before a design concept was arrived at. Eventually, the concept that was chosen for the Persian Gulf Tribute was one that seemed to relate to the design parameters and mission statement on many different levels. The concept was that of a ‘bootprint’.
To the design team, the bootprint symbolically recalled the impression that the young men and women involved in the conflict have had in our world. The bootprint seemed to be an appropriate metaphor to the mission statement’s goals of marching forward in the Global War on Terrorism. It also exemplified the notion of not walking past you, but with you, while establishing a place of hope. The bootprint recalls the many impressions left in the sand of the desert, similar to the conditions of the Middle East conflicts. The bootprint design allows for perennial flower beds to be located in the deepest impressions left by the boot. Symbolically, these deepest impressions allow for the seeds of hope, the seeds of life, the seeds of healing. The division of the bootprint into two pieces relates to the sorrow felt by the loss of those involved in the conflicts. Additionally, the two-piece bootprint allows for this tribute to straddle existing or proposed trails and act as a gateway or ‘anchor’ for a section of the trail system or future tributes.
The completed design allows for the bootprint to be viewed from the highest elevation at The Highground. This was an important part of the design because it allows the visitor to view the tribute, much like one would view a bootprint in the sands of the Middle East.
Working with the Persian Gulf Committee, the design team of Blue Design Group incorporated items used in the Persian Gulf conflicts including; Jersey and Texas barricades. These items were used to create the treads of the bootprint. These items and the following; honor stones, statue bases and reflection benches, are all intended to be constructed of sand colored granite material.
The partners of Blue Design Group, a small architectural firm located in Hortonville, Wisconsin were honored to be selected to complete this tribute. The firm’s principles, Steve Jamroz and Steve Romatz, have friends and family that have been and are currently involved in the Persian Gulf conflicts. Their efforts in the design of this tribute are dedicated to the military service of friends, family, and all of those who have sacrificed so much to provide us with the freedom that our Country is founded upon.
Blue Design Group design team members; Steve Jamroz and Steve Romatz with model of the BOOTPRINT.
Persian Gulf Committee Entry dated: April 18, 2011
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions, it's hard to not get lost in the details. The Bootprint Design in coming into form.
Our next meeting for the Persian Gulf Tribute Committee will be at 10:30 am, May 14 at the Blue Design Group offices in Hortonville, WI. On that day we plan to tour Stone Creature Creations to see if using granite or bronze statues are a better fit for the tribute. The committee is wondering if in granite the emotions of those serving will be felt.
The committee plans to present the design to the board at their next meeting on May 21. And then host an open house to invite the media and the public to The Highground to view the design, and start fundraising for the tribute.
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Persian Gulf Committee Entry dated: March 13, 2011
The Persian Gulf Tribute Committee is excited to announce their selection of The Bootprint design, submitted by the Blue Design Group, of Hortonville as the next veteran’s tribute to be placed at The Highground.
There were several amazing artist submissions. And we would like to thank everyone for submitting their creative, well thought out work, and for being patient with us during the extensive and exhaustive process. It was a very difficult decision for the judging panel and the committee to make.
Many of the works were representative of the efforts of those serving in these military events. The details of the Bootprint, however, are the best representation of the veteran’s experience and the impact felt by each of our military personnel. The Bootprint will also fit well with the other tributes on the grounds. Please look at the initial drawing of the design on The Highgrounds website, www.thehighground.org.
Many of the veterans who looked at the submissions we received commented on the concept of The Bootprint. They each identified with the days on the ground serving. Every day of their service was marked by what they did and where they had been. They all gave up their freedoms during those days to protect our freedoms here at home.
The next steps in the tribute process are finalizing the actual concept of the tribute and continuing our fundraising efforts. We look forward to working more closely with The Highground staff, especially Kirk Rodman and hitting the road to raise the funds needed to make this tribute a reality.
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Persian Gulf Committee Spring Newsletter article dated: February 2011
The Persian Gulf Committee recommended to The Highground Board of Directors during its January meeting their choice for the Persian Gulf Tribute. “The Bootprint” submission was chosen by a panel of judges and accepted by the committee. The Board accepted this choice as a conceptual design. In accepting the design, the Board asked for information from the committee and the design group, which would include cost information, latitude in design options, costs of integral parts of the submission, recommended contractors that have worked with the design group and a rough time table for completion. The committee is meeting March 12, 2011 to discuss these items and will report back to the Board at the May Board meeting.
We would like to ask all Desert Shield, Desert Storm, OIF, OEF, and GWOT veterans to consider becoming a member of the Persian Gulf Tribute committee. If you are interested in what we are doing or would like to contribute your thoughts or time, please feel free to e-mail me at david.barth@us.army.mil I will take the time to explain our goals, agenda, and help you to become a member of our great committee.
Thank you, David R. Barth, Chairman Persian Gulf Tribute
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Persian Gulf Committee Entry dated: February 13, 2011
Chairman Dave Barth met with The Highground Board of Directors on January 29th and made the recommendation, on behalf of our committee, to them for the Bootprint design. The Board of Directors has accepted the conceptual design as offered with final design pending further board approval. I have spoken with the Blue Design Group, who submitted the winning design and they are excited to work with our committee on incorporating any ideas and wishes which we may want to include in the final design.
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