Puyallup Tribe Veterans Memorial Dedication Ceremony
December 8, 2015 | By Admin |
Veterans Day provides a special opportunity to celebrate and pay tribute to our American heroes who have honored our country with their sacrifices. We have many ways to pay our respect and thank these soldiers and their families.
This year on November 11th, Nakano Associates attended the veterans memorial grand opening for the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, a recent addition near the Tribal Health Authority and Puyallup Elders Center, for which our firm provided landscape architectural and construction administration services.
Puyallup Veterans procession during the opening ceremony
The ceremony was well attended, and on this especially sunny morning, the traditional tribal music and recognitions mirrored the weather with brightness and brilliance.
As noted during the dedication ceremony, the Puyallup tribe honors their veterans and warriors most highly. Nakano Associates in collaboration with ARC Architects and KPFF Civil Engineering designed a space that reflects the river bank habitat which the Puyallup tribe has historically resided nearby. Boulders arranged throughout the memorial, exposed aggregate concrete paving, and carefully selected native plantings symbolize the river bank habitat.
Boulders and river rock that symbolize the Puyallup river bank is interspersed in the design.
The memorial space is flanked by 2 cedar trees, a plant species of special importance to the Puyallup and many other Pacific Northwest Native American Tribes.
Cedar tree in the memorial space
Four benches carved from cedar adorn the space, and silhouettes of cedar boughs have been imprinted in the concrete paving below.
Custom benches carved from cedar
The sandblasted Puyallup salmon seal
At the entrance to the memorial, the Puyallup salmon seal has been sandblasted into the concrete paving and welcomes visitors into the space, while the curved memorial wall suggests an embrace and displays medallions of the various military factions.
The memorial wall and medallions
We are honored to have participated in this meaningful project which has resulted in a space for reflection and ceremonies that this community has long desired.
Veterans Memorial Wall
