Paying ‘homage’

The Veterans Recognition Committee is changing course in regards to its recommendation for a central war monument in the Wine Street Memorial Park.

The new direction is called “Homage” and the single-figured statue certainly leaves an impact. It’s also supposed to cost a whole lot less than the previously approved, three-figure design.

“I find ‘Homage’ to be a very moving and dignified work of art,” said Town Councilman Chris Snider, whose idea it was to build the park honoring Culpeper’s World War II and Korean War veterans. “It almost looks as if it were made with us in mind. I think the potential cost savings could be the icing on the cake.”

Culpeper Town Council gets a look at the design at its regular meeting tonight at 7.

The recommendation from town staff is that council endorses the Veterans Committee’s selection of “Homage” — created by Kansas-based artist Jim Brothers — for construction in the Wine Street Memorial Park.

The statue would replace the previously selected, three-figure monument design by Culpeper County resident Tad Butler, a freelance cartoonist and illustrator based in Boston, Va.

However, the committee still intends to use the base of Butler’s design with “Homage” placed on top. Town Council named him the winning designer in January after the Veterans Committee selected his from among five other contest submissions in November.

But in the meantime, committee chairman Keith Price visited with William McIntosh, director of the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, to gather cost estimates for implementation of Butler’s design. According to McIntosh, it would cost up to $400,000 to build Butler’s larger than life characters portraying a World War II-era sailor, soldier and airman.

During the visit to Bedford, Price learned of Brothers’ “Homage” statue and at the December meeting the Veterans Committee endorsed it, citing its appropriateness for visual and fiscal reasons.

Butler is OK with the change, though he’s not completely sold on ruling out his concept only because of cost.

“Ideally, I would rather use the three figures because they represent the three figures of the military,” he said Monday, adding, “Mr. Brothers’ design is beautiful. If they prefer a less expensive alternative, that would be a good one.”

Butler said he met with Price recently in the park to finalize the dimensions of the base for “Homage.”

“I told him I was happy to contribute in any way I could,” Butler said. “The most important thing to me is that the fallen get their monument.”

Councilman Snider commended Price for taking the time to visit the D-Day Memorial and visit with its director.

He also said Butler came up with a nice design.

“I was particularly attracted to the base design. It allows us a great deal of flexibility in enhancing the overall design.”

Mayor Pranas Rimeikis said he supported the work and the recommendations of the Veterans Recognition Committee.

Committee member Sally McDevitt expressed her support Monday for “Homage,” but said it’s not written in stone yet.

“I think the committee is basically in agreement that it would be appropriate,” she said. “It could probably be used on the same base and would be less expensive and just as representative of what we are trying to do for the veterans. I am hoping that will happen.”

McDevitt went on to say that doesn’t mean Butler’s design wasn’t “beautiful and perfect.”

“It’s just that it is so much money,” she said. “Now is not a good time to be spending money on things that we don’t absolutely have to spend money on.”

McDevitt said it would be “a little more realistic” to raise the estimated $90,000 it will cost to build “Homage.”

Want to go?
Culpeper Town Council meets tonight at 7 in the county
administration building, 302 N. Main St.

Also on the agenda:
*Recommendation to enter into a $275,000 contract with Dominion Development for design of a new police station in the old church on Old Brandy Road
*Recommendation to approve $10,000 in seed money for the town’s 250th birthday
celebration in September