The Central New York War Monument – one of 15 monuments and memorials lining a 4-mile expanse along Utica’s Memorial Parkway, as part of Utica’s historic Olmstead-designed park system – sustained remarkable damage discovered about a year ago.
The monument is of a trio of soldiers representing each of World War I, World War II, and the Korean War depicted in the almost 25-year-old sculpture.
Another trio representing each of Utica’s public, private, and non-profit sectors are collaborating to restore the memorial.
GreenUtica Executive Director Gina Pearce, AmeriCU Credit Union President and Chief Executive Officer Ron Belle, and Mayor of Utica Michael Galime, gathered at GreenUtica’s headquarters adjacent to Memorial Parkway on Nov. 6, during Veterans Week to announce their partnership in the CNY War Monument Restoration Project.
Their endeavor to address the visibly damaged sculpture of the three soldiers with “a new design” will, according to Belle, “ensure that the monument “continues to inspire all who visit it.”
“When we realized this monument needs repair,” said Pearce, “we decided to take the lead on this project to honor our veterans.”
History of the CNY War Monument
The CNY War Monument was unveiled in 2001, the manifestation of a vision to remember veterans from World Wars I and II, and the Korean War shared by three members of the local MIA-POW Action Group, Joe Amerosa, Clayton Bramhall (now deceased) and Walter Handy, who devoted six years to the campaign and fundraising of the $85,000-cost to create it.
The image of the three soldiers mounted on a triangular base bearing three plaques to commemorate the three wars was sculpted by local artist, Joe Talerico.
According to a statement by GreenUtica, the monument serves as the site for services on Memorial and Veterans Day each year, as well as a place for veterans, their families, and community to go, “a physical and sacred point of a remembrance.”
Cause, degree of damage
The extent of the damage to the sculpture of the soldiers was discovered about a year ago.
A close look reveals wear and gaps to fingers, elbows, arms, across the three soldiers. Pearce asserted that they do not believe the damage was caused by vandals. The missing hand on one of the soldiers was discovered after a severe storm, but the exact cause remains unknown.
The sculpture was fashioned from fiberglass, not bronze as the material is often misunderstood to be. While fiberglass is not considered biodegradable, UV radiation from the sun can cause the resin to slightly degrade over time.
Weather such as wind and water can, also over time, breaking it down into smaller pieces.
“These monuments have existed for many, many years,” said Galime. “They need to be maintained; they deserve to be maintained. It’s time.”
Pearce confirmed that Amorosa and Talerico have both been involved in assessing the condition of the current sculpture and the plan to reimagine the monument. Talerico visited the monument and confirmed that the sculpture could not be repaired.
A recreation of the original should be sculpted in bronze and would be a ‘from scratch’ endeavor that would likely far exceed the $85,000 cost taken on in the late 1990s.
Same foundation, new design
“It needs to be a monument that can be preserved and maintained to a level of stature that reflects how much we respect our veterans,” said Galime.
Daniel H. Burdick & Sons Quality Memorials of Clinton has partnered on a new design, described as a simple, strong “peak cap,” carved from granite and embossed with gold lettering, that would rest atop the existing base (which would be preserved as is) in the place of the sculpture of the three soldiers.
With regard to the fate of the sculpture of the soldiers, Pearce shared that it had not yet been determined.
“If the original sculpture can be stored and preserved,” promised Galime, “it will be.”
“We’ll make sure that it is a lovely monument that will withstand the test of time,” assured Pearce.
CNY War Monument Restoration Project fundraising campaign
Veterans Day Week was the perfect time to launch the fundraising for the $16,000 estimated cost for the new version of the CNY War Monument, officials said.
Burdick Memorials has promised to donate the materials and work involved in engraving the granite as part of their contribution to the project when the time comes.
AmeriCU’s contribution to the project is $5,000. Pearce confirmed with a smile that they are currently at $5,350.
The community is invited to make a donation to the CNY War Monument Restoration Project; go to www.greenutica.org/warmonument, where you will find a DONATE button that will guide you in your tax-deductible gift.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Damaged Utica war monument set for restoration
Reporting by Cara Dolan Berry, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
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