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Published on 06/29/1998 All articles from this issue

Two guys with a good idea ... that worked

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Editorial

There's an old bromide that says "nothing can stop a good idea whose time has come." A couple years ago two Los Altans had an idea, a vision. Neither Los Altos nor Los Altos Hills, thought they, has a memorial of any kind to the hundreds of veterans in our communities who served their country in the past. They dreamed of a permanent display that would remind future generations that freedom is no accident.

So these two began to put wheels under their idea. They created a plan of action: a budget of $100,000, a sponsoring committee involving community leaders, a system to solicit input from artists nationwide. And finally, a deadline: a dedication ceremony would be held July 4, 1998!

Their plan worked. The fund-raising effort was so successful that they raised not $100,000 but $120,000 from more than 500 contributors. The local sponsoring committee rallied to support all aspects of the project. Requests to the art community nationwide resulted in 40 samples of art and creative ideas. And last Saturday, right on schedule, the new memorial was unveiled.

But the path to success was not easy. A major issue right from the start was what would a memorial look like, and where would it be? Ten sites were considered, and the final selection was a secluded, creek-side location in Shoup Park. Since these two men were more interested in peace than war, they convinced the Los Altos City Council to place the permanent symbol of peace in a tranquil setting, where a viewer might meditate and reflect on human values, protected from the hubbub of traffic and busy city life.

Finally, who would create the piece of art and what would it be like? From the 40 proposals that came forth, one stood out. It was a sculpture proposed by local artist, R.J. Truman. Her inspiration, "Cradle of Liberty," is a larger-than-life-size bronze sculpture of a soldier holding a small child. Not a glorification of military might with symbols of guns or bombers or crossed swords, the statue is rather a sensitive tribute to the vulnerability of humankind, the sacredness of life and the need for protection.

We salute Bill Henderson and Jay Brandon, the two men who made it happen. Both WWII veterans, their passion was contagious and not contentious. They were driven by a community vision and not a political mission.

Their two-year effort, and the efforts of those they recruited to help, has created a reminder of patriotic commitment that will pass from generation to generation.