Anthem Veterans Memorial About the Memorial

If you would like to see the Anthem Veteran Memorial site location, please click here. 

History:

Retired Rear Adm. Ron Tucker began the Anthem Veterans Memorial project early in 2009. It took only a small article about the dedication of a Veterans Memorial in another Arizona location that got Ron thinking, “Why not a Memorial to honor U.S. Veterans in Anthem?” He spoke with individual directors of the Anthem Community Council to get their opinions, all of whom thought the idea was perfect for Anthem. 

Ron knew Renee Palmer-Jones and was familiar with her artistic talents so he asked her to create the design. He then went to other friends, Jim Martin and Steve Rusch who jumped on board and the project began.

When Renee Palmer-Jones received the invitation from Ron Tucker to design the Anthem Veterans Memorial, her first instincts were to design something “entirely unique and yet, ‘classical’ in structure, while emphasizing the significance of November 11, Veterans Day, each year.” 

These priorities led Renee to think about ways in which the sun could become an integral part of the design because every day of the year has unique sun angles. She began to sketch various configurations that utilize the sun’s specific position at precisely 11:11 a.m. every November 11th, until she came up with the rough outline of what ultimately became (after several modifications) the final configuration of the pillars, elliptical openings and mosaic. 

Ron adds, “I wish it were some long-held vision formed while I commanded the USS New Jersey or while in a meeting at the Naval Station at Pearl Harbor, but really, it just wasn’t that glamorous. I’m simply fortunate to have the creative talents and support of my friends to make this all happen.” Thanks to the creativity, engineering and technical wizardry skills of the entire AVM committee, Ron’s idea and Renee’s artistic conceptual design became a dynamic reality.
 

Significance of the Design Elements:

The Memorial design is full of significance “as nothing is there by accident,” tells Renee Palmer-Jones, AVM artistic designer. 

The five pillars represent the five branches of the United States military. They are staggered in size and the military seal placements on each pillar are based upon the Department of Defense prescribed precedence, ranging from the United States Army, the United States Marine Corp, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, and the United States Coast Guard. 

At precisely 11:11 a.m. on Veterans Day, the shadows of the Memorial pillars will align perfectly to cast one, long shadow across the circle of pavers. At the exact same time, the sunlight projecting through the elliptical openings in the pillars will pour through onto the mosaic at the foot of the pillars. The sunlight cast through the elliptical openings will become a circle that will perfectly illuminate the mosaic of the Great Seal of the United States. 

The significance of this Memorial design represents the unity of all five military branches, serving steadfast together for us all. Our military heroes have worked together throughout history and continue today to keep our country safe. This unity is symbolized in the Memorial as each part must work together to illuminate The Great Seal of the U.S.

Additionally, the brick pavers within the Circle of Honor will be inscribed with the names of U.S. servicemen and women, symbolizing the 'support' for the pillars. The pavers are red, the pillars are white marble, and the sky is blue to represent America's flag. The circle represents an unbreakable border. 

Renee explains, “The objective of the Anthem Veterans Memorial is that the sun will illuminate every Veterans Day the glory of the American eagle mosaic which lay at the heart of the Memorial that is forever surrounded, loved and protected by our veterans.”