Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, (sculpture).

Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, (sculpture).

Deering, John, 1956- , sculptor.

Gartman, Stephen K., designer.

Lugar Foundry and Gallery, founder.

Burt Taggart and Associates, architectural firm.

Garver & Garver, engineering firm.

James H. Cone, Inc., contractor.

Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, (sculpture).

Arkansas Vietnam Veterans' Memorial, (sculpture).

1987. Dedicated March 7, 1987.

Sculpture: bronze; Sculpture base: marble; Walls and base: marble and granite.

Sculpture: approx. 96 in. x 5 ft. 3 in. x 5 ft. 3 in.; Walls and base: approx. H. 83 in. x Diam. 53 ft.

(Behind proper left heel of figure:) John Deering (copyright symbol) 1987/Lugar Foundry/Earle, Ark. (On base of sculpture, each side, clockwise from left front:) MARINE CORPS Army Navy CoastGuard AIR FORCE (On wall, southeast face:) "ARKANSAS VIETNAM VETERANS' MEMORIAL" (On plaques attached to interior wall: names of approximately 650 service members from Arkansas killed during the Vietnam War) signed Founder's mark appears.

A memorial consisting of a large, walk-on, circular base with exterior and interior curved walls that partially enclose a sculpture. A Vietnam soldier stands in full military battle uniform holding a helmet down in his proper left hand and an M-16 rifle pointing down in his proper right hand. He wears a fully loaded backpack and an ammunition belt with grenades strapped over his proper right shoulder. The sculpture is mounted upon a base with five tapered sides that rests on the patio-like, marble and granite base of the memorial. A semicircular interior wall, composed of granite slabs, backs the sculpture, leaving the front of the sculpture exposed and facing out from the open, northwest side of the memorial. Metal plaques inscribed with the names of soldiers from Arkansas who died in Vietnam are attached to the interior wall behind the sculpture. A semicircular, granite seating bench rests in front of the wall of names. Two "quarter" outer walls, graduating down in height, partially enclose the inner wall and extend part of the way around the perimeter of the memorial, opening to create an entrance on the southeast side. A walkway leads up to the entrance which is flanked by flagpoles.

History -- United States -- Vietnam War

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- Arkansas -- Little Rock

Administered by State of Arkansas, Arkansas State Capitol Building, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

Located Arkansas State Capitol, Southeast corner of grounds, near 7th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas

In 1983, the Arkansas State legislature approved a bill sponsored by representative Doug Wood, to install a memorial on the Arkansas State Capitol grounds to honor Arkansans who died during the Vietnam War. Vietnam Veterans groups sought to raise $100,000 in private contributions for the memorial through the Vietnam Veterans Monument Fund set up by the Arkansas Secretary of State. The Arkansas Chapter of the American Legion also contributed to the memorial fund. The memorial was designed by University of Arkansas architectural student, Stephen K. Gartman. According to Gartman, the "circular design is intended to commemorate the positive aspects of the Vietnam War" and to "remind veterans of the strength and camaraderie they displayed in the war." The figure of the soldier was created by John Deering and produced at Lugar Foundry and Gallery.

Bronze plaque set in lawn on northwest side of memorial reads: "ARKANSAS VIETNAM VETERANS' MEMORIAL/BILL CLINTON Governor W.J. "BILL" McCUEN Secretary of State/Authorized by Act 394 of 1983/sponsored by Representative Doug Wood 74th General Assembly/Architect: Burt Taggart & Associates/architect/Designer: Stephen K. Gartman/Engineer: Garver + Garver, Incorporated/General Contractor: James H. Cone Inc./March 7, 1987." Stone plaques in ground by flagpoles at entrance read: Presented by/this jurisdiction/Woodmen of the World. IAS files contain related articles from the Arkansas Gazette, March 24, 1983, pg. B1 and B4; April 2, 1984, pg. B1 and B2; April 27, 1984, pg. A4 and A14; and May 27, 1986, pg. A1 and A9. IAS files contain a visitor information sheet from the Public Relations Department of the Arkansas State Capitol.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Arkansas survey, 1992.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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