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More Smithsonian Searches     Who else has...     Smither, John,     Snow, Gary,     Heartland Art Bronze,     Deggingers Foundry,     History -- United States     Dress -- Uniform     Dress -- Accessory     Dress -- Accessory     Object -- Weapon     Literature -- Binyon     Object -- Written Matter     Outdoor Sculpture -- Kansas -- Lawrence     Sculpture

The Letter, (sculpture). Artist:  Smither, John, sculptor. Snow, Gary, assistant. Heartland Art Bronze, founder. Deggingers Foundry, founder. Title:  The Letter, (sculpture). Other Titles:  Vietnam Memorial, (sculpture). Dates:  1988. Copyrighted 1988. Unveiled Nov. 11, 1988. Dedicated May 31, 1989 or May 30, 1990. Digital Reference:  Medium:  Sculpture: bronze; Plinth: bronze; Base: limestone. Dimensions:  Sculpture: approx. 43 x 11 x 13 in.; Plinth: approx. H. 3 in.; Base: approx. 3 ft. x 5 ft. 6 in. x 5 ft. 6 in. Inscription:  J. SMITHER (On plaque on base:) DEGGINGERS' FOUNDRY (On plaque on east side of base:) "THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD,/AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD./AGE SHALL NOT WITHER THEM,/NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN./AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN/AND IN THE MORNING/WE WILL REMEMBER THEM."/LAURENCE BINYON/(list of fifteen names) signed Founder's mark appears. Description:  An M-16A1 rifle and cartridge stuck barrel-down between a pair of worn combat boots, with dog tags on shoelaces. Atop the rifle is a helmet. Inside the helmet, hanging atop the rifle butt, is a letter. The sculpture is placed atop a flat-topped pyramid of limestone rocks in a landscaped area that includes a flagpole and protective lighting. Subject:  History -- United States -- Vietnam War Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform Dress -- Accessory -- Shoe Dress -- Accessory -- Helmet Object -- Weapon -- Gun Literature -- Binyon Object -- Written Matter -- Letter Object Type:  Outdoor Sculpture -- Kansas -- Lawrence Sculpture Owner:  United States Department of the Army, Samuel B. Churchill U.S. Army Reserve Center, 2100 Iowa Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66046 Remarks:  The sculpture was a gift from the artist, a U.S. Navy veteran from Lawrence, given in commemoration of Vietnam veterans. The objects represent a fallen infantryman; and the configuration was often used as a burial marker in Vietnam. Gary Snow, a stone mason, built the base. In September 1991, the sculpture was vandalized, the rifle and helmet bent down. The artist repaired the sculpture and it was reinstalled on October 29, 1991. IAS files contain related articles from the Lawrence Journal-World, Oct. 27, 1988, pg. 3A; Nov. 6, 1988, Section D, pg. 1D, 6D; Nov. 18, 1988; and Oct. 5, 1991. IAS files contain articles from The Kansas City Times, Nov. 10, 1988, pg. E-9; and Nov. 12, 1988, pg. C-1, C-7. IAS files contain a press release; dedication program, and related Army correspondence and memoranda. References:  Save Outdoor Sculpture, Kansas survey, 1994. Illustration:  Image on file. Lawrence Journal-World, Nov. 6, 1988, Section D, pg. 1-D. Note:  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. Repository:  Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 Control Number:  IAS KS000515   Copy/Holding information Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum Control Number   Inventory of American Sculpture KS000515 Add Copy to MyList Format: HTMLPlain textDelimited Subject:   Email to:

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