Parsons High School drafting students met with city of Parsons officials to update them on where things stand and discuss next steps in Phase I of the construction of the Five Pathways to Freedom Veterans Memorial on the north side of the Parsons Municipal Auditorium.
“To get the colonnade built, we have to know exactly where all that electrical runs underground,” PHS drafting instructor Bruce Rea said, referring to both existing electric and where electric will be installed to uplight the columns on the colonnade, the flagpoles and pedestals dedicated to each branch of the service.
Rea, students Tryston Ridgeway, Anthony Bauer, and Adam Reel, and licensed electrician Barney Pontious, who serves as a student consultant, and Five Pathways Committee member Carl Johnson were all present at the meeting, along with two city workers who deal with electric projects, city Public Works Director Darrell Moyer, city Events & Media Director Matt Hoisington, and Streets & Parks Supervisor Fred Hammack.
Details gathered on the electrical work will allow for estimated pricing. Fundraising is still in the works for the veterans memorial, and knowing where all the electric will be installed will help ensure there is enough funding to complete Phase I before the construction is even started on the city site.
Pouring of concrete footings and foundations for all the memorial elements, installation of the columns, I-beam, flag poles and the granite pedestals, are all included in Phase I.
Phase II consists of pouring all the concrete sidewalks and pathways.
Phase III will handle all remaining lighting and the laying of the granite pavers in honor of, and in memory of, veterans.
The columns for the colonnade have already been built by PHS students and have been erected on concrete footings poured at PHS in order to verify the precision of those aspects of the construction, as they will support a rolled I-beam on top that completes the colonnade.
Ducommun and CST are both assisting the high school students and memorial committee with aspects of the I-Beam. It is hoped, if full approval is given, the companies can assist with everything from cutting the I beam to size to rolling (curving) the I-Beam, and from designing the fastening method to the columns to cutting out the letters from the metal to spell out “IN HONOR OF ALL WHO SERVED”.
In the meantime, PHS drafting students will continue their work behind the scenes.
Those who would like more information on the veterans memorial and how to donate can visit the Parsons Area Community Foundation at https://www.parsonsareacf.org/.