| United in Memory - Committed to Freedom | Launch DIA memorial site | |
| A memorial designed and built in remembrance of the seven members of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) that were victim to the attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. |
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| Rosa M. Chapa, Sandra N. Foster, Robert J. Hymel, Shelley A. Marshall, Patricia E. Mickley, Charles E. Sabin and Karl W. Teepe. | ||
When approached by the DIA to create a public art memorial I felt that it was important to visually represent the vision and mission of the DIA community. The men and women that serve here are committed to providing service for our country and its citizens. They are dedicated to defending our nation and providing its leaders with information and knowledge that ensures its security. With this in mind, a structure was envisioned that symbolized our nation’s unity and strength – a strength that the individuals we memorialize represented in their devotion to their country. For over 200 years, the American flag has symbolized our nation's unity and strength. It therefore was a natural choice to represent the strength of the DIA community. The shape and functionality of this memorial is representational of a flag unfurled, blowing in the wind. Stainless steel frames encapsulate eight laminated glass panels. Seven of these frames are capable of rotating a full 360 degrees – just like our lives they are forever revolving and changing. These seven unique units represent the lives of the seven individuals we honor with this memorial. An eighth frame remains stationary displaying an excerpt from an essay titled "During a Time of Trouble" by James Henry Leigh Hunt. The material within the panels is a mesmerizing type of glass called dichroic glass. The dichroic glass was chosen to serve as a symbolic reminder of change and reflection. The defining characteristic of this exceptional media is its ability to transmit and reflect light, producing a variation of color, opacity and reflective qualities. The rotating glass panels are adorned with seven textured glue-chip stripes. At the base of the structure lies a polished piece of limestone taken from the Pentagon debris. The names of the seven DIA victims are carved into the stone with the title of the memorial “United in Memory – Committed to Freedom.” The use of the building material serves as a stark but beautiful tribute to the loss of our colleagues, friends and family. As a young artist I find it incredibly humbling to have had the opportunity to create this memorial. It is my hope that the families and friends of the victims can visit this memorial to gain strength and reflect on the lives of their loved ones. DESIGN AND FABRICATION CREDITS: |
