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Construction/Design
Committee:
Oversee
and coordinate overall design of bell tower, including the
integration of the bells and bell support system. Develop
construction cost estimate. Coordinate bidding and construction
phases. Develop a maintenance program and budget for both
the bell tower and the surrounding grounds.
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Building
Structure:
The Veteran's Bell Tower is a 56-foot high masonry structure
that will have several purposes. The main level will contain
Informational Kiosks, along with Educational Displays for
both students and adults to study and learn about Wisconsin's
Veterans of the various wars. The second level will be for
the Change Ringers Guild of Wisconsin, the bell ringers. In
this area, they will practice and perform the ringing of the
bells, as well as store their music and other supplies. The
upper level will contain the eight bronze bells that were
made at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, England.
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Bells:
The eight bronze bells have been purchased and donated by
Mr. Roland Perchon in memory of his parents. The bells were
made by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, England, and
weigh from 359 lbs. to 1059 lbs. |
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Bell
Supporting Structure:
A
special steel structure will be designed and constructed for
the support of the bells. This structure will have the capability
of not only supporting the weight of the bells, but also the
movement of the bells. The structure itself will move within
the building when the bells are being rung. |
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Informational
Kiosks:
These
kiosks will be located on the main floor of the bell tower
and will have information on the various wars that Wisconsin
Veterans participated in. The kiosks will be touch-screen
interactive, allowing visitors to look up the information
on conflicts and individuals of interest.
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Educational
Displays:
Displays will be set up around the main
level that will contain educational material on a particular
war or event. These displays will be constantly changed
out, so that visitors will see different information each
time they visit the Memorial Bell Tower.
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Musical
Bells:
The
musical bells are different from the Whitechapel Bells in
that they will have the capability of playing well-known
songs. The type of songs would coincide with the time of
year, i.e. Christmas, or national holidays, i.e. Memorial
Day.
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Brick
Walks:
The Veterans Bell Tower Memorial will have
brick walks leading up to it from the parking lot. It will
also have brick walks leading to the flag court and memorial
garden. Although there will be engraved memorialized brick
within the walks and flag court, the greater percentage
of the brick will be plain.
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Fountains:
As you approach the Bell Tower from the
parking lot, there will be two fountains, one on each side
of the main walk. Contained within these fountains will
be granite monuments. The water in these fountains will
be quiet. The only movement will be the gentle flow of water
over the face of the monuments that will be set in the middle
of these pools of water. There will also be an active water
fountain on the south side of the tower. This fountain will
be flanked on each side by a stairway leading down to the
memorial garden.
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Granite
Monuments:
These granite monuments will be set within
pools of water, one on each side of the main entry walk.
The monuments will be inscribed with the various units of
the armed forces that were represented by Wisconsin. The
monuments will have water gently flowing over the face down
into the pools.
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Flag
Court:
A flag court will be located on the east
side of the Veteran's Bell Tower Memorial. There will be
three (3) flags: United States flag, State of Wisconsin
flag, and a flag that will be interchangeable. These flags
would be designed by students to show their respect for
the Veterans of Wisconsin.
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Benches:
There will be benches located in various
areas, such as the flag court and memory garden. These will
allow visitors the opportunity to sit and meditate alone,
or have discussions with friends or relatives.
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Memory
Garden:
On the south side of the bell tower, there
is an old shag bark hickory tree that has been retained.
Surrounding this tree will be a well-landscaped memorial
garden. Surrounding the memorial garden will be a brick
walk with benches. This area will be considerably lower
than the bell tower, and will allow for peaceful meditation.
There will be an ADA-compliant walk leading down to this
area in addition to the stairways.
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