Homage

Mindful that Culpeper had already honored its heroes of the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Vietnam War, and the Global War on Terror but had not yet done the same for local veterans of World War II and the Korean War, in June 2008 Culpeper's Town Council formed the Veterans Recognition Committee (VRC). The VRC was charged with choosing the design for a central monument in Wine Street Memorial Park to honor our World War II and Korean War veterans, and for coordinating fundraising activities to pay for its construction.

Homage by Jim Brothers

At its November 2008 meeting, the VRC unanimously selected a winning monument design from submissions solicited by town staff through a design competition. Created by local artist Tad Butler, the winning design featured three life-sized bronze figures (representing the three primary branches of wartime service) atop a granite base. However, consultations with professionals revealed that Mr. Butler’s design, as submitted, would be prohibitively expensive for the community to fund.

At its December 2008 meeting, the VRC unanimously voted to recommend to Town Council that the three figures be replaced with a single, iconic bronze statue - Homage by Jim Brothers of Lawrence, KS. Mr. Brothers is a nationally known sculptor who created the bronze soldier statuary at the National
D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA as well as works in other high-profile locations across the country. Emotionally powerful, Mr. Brothers’ Homage movingly makes the statement the VRC members sought for the monument with the added advantage of being significantly less expensive than the original three-figure design.

Homage on a granite base as rendered by Tad Butler

The projected total cost of the monument is approximately $125,000. Mr. Brothers’ cost for producing a full-size Homage (estimated at 8 feet tall) is $85,000 which includes a 24-inch miniature for fundraising that has already been received by the Town. The granite base—retained in a slightly modified form from Tad Butler’s original design—will cost approximately $38,000, and has been contracted to Found & Sons Funeral Home of Culpeper. Stone for the base has been donated by Jet Mist Quarry of Rapidan, VA.

Thanks to the enormous generosity of the Culpeper community, as of April 2011 the necessary $125,000 has been raised and Mr. Brothers has begun work to create the full-size sculpture. In addition, the granite for the base is now being shaped, polished, and engraved. If all goes as we plan and expect, Homage will be in place and dedicated on Saturday, 18 June 2011. Donations are still being accepted and will be applied toward long-term monument maintenance and site development.

Homage will be a fitting tribute to our veterans of the Greatest Generation, and will enhance our community. Please join us in this worthy effort. Thank you in advance for your generosity.