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Published on 06/22/1998 All articles from this issue

City celebrates 4th with Vet Memorial dedication

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue

Town Crier Staff Writer

The party's planned. Everyone is invited. A quintessential all-American Fourth of July celebration - including a color guard, drill team, Air Force band, keynote speech by former Secretary of Defense William Perry, a fighter plane fly-over and a barbecue - will be held at Shoup Park in Los Altos beginning at 10 a.m. this Saturday.

And the centerpiece of the event will be the dedication of a Veterans' Memorial, a bronze statue called "Cradle of Liberty."

Created by Los Altos artist R.J. Truman, the memorial is the result of a dream that began with Los Altos veterans Jay Brandon and Bill Henderson.

These two, with the support of the Veterans Memorial Association of Los Altos & Los Altos Hills, have been working toward this moment for nearly two years.

"Bill and I had to learn how to proceed one step at a time," Brandon said at the June 23 Los Altos City Council meeting.

Their initial goal, back in October of 1996: to raise $100,000, through private donations, to fund a Veterans' Memorial for the Los Altos area.

And they have. In fact, they're over the top, with contributions totaling nearly $120,000, Brandon said. More than 500 contributors, including individuals and groups, have given money to the project.

At the council meeting, when Debby Maynard from the city's recreation department officially presented the statue to the city, Brandon and Henderson also donated, from the Veterans Memorial Association, a maintenance fund "for ongoing care of the memorial," Brandon said.

The city council approved the concept of the project in January, 1997, Maynard said, and in February, 1997 chose Shoup Park as the site for the memorial.

The Association then launched a nationwide search for an artist. After reviewing more than 40 resumés and samples of artwork, the Association selected Truman, not knowing until the final review that she was from Los Altos.

On Saturday the statue, described by Los Altos City Councilman Francis La Poll as "a model for future service," will be unveiled and dedicated.

At 10 a.m. the U.S. Air Force band will present a 30-minute concert. Paul Nyberg, publisher of the Los Altos Town Crier, will preside as master of ceremonies.

Before the festivities at Shoup Park, folks may start their day with a pancake breakfast, from 8-11 a.m. at Union Presbyterian Church, 858 University Ave., in Los Altos.

The church will provide free shuttle service to Shoup Park.

Following the ceremony and statue dedication, expected to last until about noon, visitors may enjoy burgers and hot dogs, for $1, served by the American Legion Post 558.

Planners ask those coming to park on the streets, to bring blankets, and "no chairs, please."

The entrance to Shoup Park is in the 300 block of University Avenue, between Lincoln Park and University Terrace.