For press inquiries or to schedule an interview, please contact Elizabeth Murray, Managing Director of the San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center, through the contact information listed below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Elizabeth Murray at (415) 554-6306
Email: Elizabeth.murray@sfgov.org

WAR MEMORIAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANNOUNCES WINNER OF THE SAN FRANCISCO VETERANS MEMORIAL DESIGN COMPETITION
 
Design proposal of Susan Narduli & Andrea Cochran entitled “Passage of Remembrance” endorsed by War Memorial Board of Trustees.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 14, 2011 – The War Memorial Board of Trustees today endorsed the design proposal submitted by Susan Narduli and Andrea Cochran for the San Francisco Veterans Memorial.

Entitled Passage of Remembrance, the focal point of Susan Narduli and Andrea Cochran's proposal is a series of three reflection pools circumscribed by an octagon of stone. Seen from above, the pools form a circle of gently flowing water that glides over polished stone in sloping planes from the street to the garden below. The interplay between the circle and the octagon is meant to symbolize the merging of heaven and eternity (circle) and earth (octagon). An open metal weave walkway floats above the water and takes visitors through the memorial. The walkway is anchored on either side by basalt walls that reflect the image of passersby. The west wall is inscribed with a poem by World War I veteran Archibald MacLeish titled "The Young Dead Soldiers Do Not Speak".

"As I worked on this project, I thought a lot about those who, like my father, passed through San Francisco on their way to combat overseas and how for many of them, this was the last American land they saw. Andrea and I have worked to respect this important civic space. We are deeply honored to have a part in creating a memorial that recognizes the men and women who give so much for this nation," said Susan Narduli of Narduli Studio.

The San Francisco Veterans Memorial Project is headed by former Secretary of State George P. Shultz and former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry, who co-chair the Veterans Memorial Steering Committee, which is raising private funds for the design, installation and maintenance of the Veterans Memorial. The Steering Committee has raised nearly $1.8 million towards the $2.5 million project cost, which includes a $500,000 maintenance endowment.

The original 1920's plans for the War Memorial Complex called for a veterans' memorial in the Memorial Court, the landscaped area between the War Memorial Opera House and Veterans Building, which was designed by San Francisco landscape architect Thomas Church, and which is under the care of the War Memorial Board of Trustees. The Memorial Court contains soils from battlefields throughout the world where Americans have fought for their country.

The San Francisco Arts Commission conducted a national design competition for the Veterans Memorial. Three artist teams were selected as finalists in November 2010. Finalists' design proposals were unveiled on June 7, 2011, and were placed on public display from June 8 – 22, 2011, in the Veterans Building main lobby. A selection panel was convened on June 27, 2011, to adopt an endorsement recommendation to the War Memorial Board of Trustees.

The San Francisco Veterans Memorial is planned to be formally dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11, 2013.

For more information please visit www.sfveteransmemorial.org.

Help Keep the Promise! Donations can be made online at:
www.sfveteransmemorial.org

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Previous Press Releases:

• August 23, 2011 - War Memorial Trustee and SF Veterans Memorial Working Committee Co-Chairman MajGen J. Michale Myatt meets with cast of "Heart of a Soldier" Opera
• August 9, 2011 - Invitation to Preview "Heart of a Soldier" Opera about a 9/11 Hero and Vietnam Veteran Rick Rescorla.
• July 14, 2011 - War Memorial Board of Trustees Announces Winner of theSan Francisco Veterans Memorial Design Competition
• May 31, 2011 - San Francisco Veterans Memorial Final Designs to be Unveiled June 7, 2011 at private reception
• November 10, 2010 - Announcement of Design Finalists (PDF)
• November 10, 2010 - Design Finalists' Biographies (PDF)
• May 10, 2010 - SF Examiner (PDF)
• April 26, 2010 - Project Launch (PDF)