Stony Creek Granite Completes Veterans Memorial at
Yonkers
City Hall
Yonkers, NY - The Veteran’s Memorial at City Hall was commemorated today (Sunday, May 20) after an expansion and restoration coordinated by Stony Creek Quarry Corporation in conjunction with the Yonkers Veterans Service Agency and the Department of Engineering in the City of Yonkers. Originally designed by the famous architectural sculptor Isidore Konti, (1862-1938) to honor the brave Yonkers veterans who fought and died in World War I (1914 – 1918), the monument was erected in 1922. Today there are over 20,000 veterans living in the city of
Yonkers
.
Capital Improvement Design Concept
Al Ramsey, city director of Yonkers Veterans Services Administration, Jack Lotz, James Nolan and the Central Committee of War Veterans and the City of
Yonkers
proposed expanding and updating the tribute to
Yonkers
’ veterans of
Korea
,
Vietnam
,
Iraq
and
Afghanistan
who died in action. After capital improvement project approval in August, 2006 by the Yonkers City Council, project manager Chris Conner, construction administrator for the Department of Engineering worked closely with landscape architect (and veteran) Ralph Crosby, RLA who designed the memorial, managed the expertise and fast-tracked the scheduling for completion by Memorial Day, 2007. Ralph is well known for his continuing restoration of
Samuel
Untermeyer
Park
and Gardens.
Five Tons of Inscribed Granite
Stony Creek Quarry of
Branford
,
CT
was responsible for dimensioning, fine-brushing, inscription, transport and mounting of four 2500 lb. granite tablets and their bases upon the curved existing walls. Installation was done by Ron Del Vecchio of Presidential Marble and Granite of Hamden, CT. Today’s commemoration etches these Korean,
Vietnam
,
Iraq
and Afghanistan War veterans permanently in the original granite. The last piece of the project was for Stony Creek Quarry to inset the central dedication plaque bearing the inscription “In Memory of the Sons and Daughters of the City of
Yonkers
who gave their lives for their Country.” Peter Braun, Director of Marketing for Stony Creek Quarry Corporation, and a Vietnam Veteran, stated, "It is an honor to be a part of Yonkers’ celebration of its military tradition. This monument is made of the same granite that supports the Statue of Liberty and is only mined in the little town of Stony Creek as it has been for the past 150 years."
Bronze Restoration
Oxidized and darkened by UV rays over time, the bronze names had become difficult to read. The background had also been painted more than once. Bronze restoration was performed by G&L Popian, Inc., of
Yonkers
, whose innovative techniques included use of dry ice to thermally chip off old paint. “Patina was added in some places and removed in others to brighten the inscriptions,“ said Gabriel Popian, “as well as bring out highlights in the face, hands and clothing of the angel.”
Masonry and Infrastructure
Over time, the stairs had become uneven, and space between walls had been weakened by water. Renovation of the infrastructure was undertaken by M&S Masonry and Construction of Yonkers. Granite stair treads were reset, old caulking was replaced with hydraulic mortar, with pressure grouting behind walls on both sides of the memorial. Concrete bases and electrical were also set for uplighted 20-foot flagpoles at either side.
About Stony Creek Quarry
With over 150 years of experience, Stony Creek Quarry Corporation continues to support community vision while inspiring future generations of history and tradition. Stony Creek granite is quarried only within the secluded Stony Creek Preserve south of I-95 in
Branford
,
Connecticut
. Corporate offices are located at:
7 Business Park Drive
in
Branford
,
Connecticut
, at exit 56 of I-95, within a 90-minute travel radius of
New York
,
Boston
,
Providence
,
Hartford
,
Springfield
and
Worcester
.
Stony Creek Quarry Corporation, Branford, CT
http://www.stonycreekquarry.com
For Additional Information on the
Yonkers
Veterans Memorial at City Hall:
City of
Yonkers
Office of Veterans Services
http://www.cityofyonkers.com/veterans/index.htm
Al Ramsey, Director of Veterans Services (914) 377-6700
Albert.Ramsey@cityofyonkers.com
