Together with the Mesquite Rotary Club, Bomanite Licensee, Texas Bomanite completed an area of reflection to honor exemplary members of the Rotary Club featuring three natural stone vertical elements with bronze commemorative plaques, park benches and a large “Rotary International” logo in the center of Debusk Park. Debusk Park is a 42.5-acre park featuring a 1.44-mile walking/running trail, 2 playgrounds, a baseball field, 2 large pavilions with 18 picnic tables, and ample open space.
The sidewalks that lead into the Rotary Club Grove of Honor are made of stamped and stained concrete using the Bomacron Running Bond Used Brick pattern and Bomanite Desert Tan Stain. These sidewalks lead visitors to the benches. The next finish completed was an Exposed Aggregate Sandscape Refined System in a Sand color and light exposure. It runs underneath the 3 stone vertical elements and a quarter of the way around the large “Rotary International” logo in the middle of the project. The remaining ¾ of the area directly bordering the logo is Sandscape Refined with Painted Desert color. Finally, the large “Rotary International” logo was created by sandblasting and staining in black the Rotary symbol, set against a Sandscape Refined background with a Brass color hardener. The entire area is surrounded by a 6” border in a Sand color hardener with a broom finish.
Rotary International, a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders, was established in 1905. The clubs in the organization provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace.
The Veterans Administration (VA) Central California Health Care System originally hired Heritage Bomanite to place plain gray concrete with a broom finish for their Walk of Honor Memorial project. Heritage Bomanite worked with the VA and TETER Architects & Engineers Company and had them visit their architectural design showroom. Many samples were reviewed and they were so impressed with the quality, durability, look and feel that they decided to upgrade to the Bomanite Sandscape Texture System.
The walk is a landscaped area that leads visitors to the center’s Wall of Honor. The integrally colored concrete and Sandscape finish path has a hand cut pattern in dark and light grey colors. Heritage Bomanite installed the red granite stars along with the decorative concrete finish. The walls are locally quarried Black Granite with more than 1,100 Veterans names engraved.
TETER was so moved by the project that their staff gathered donations that made it possible for the VA to purchase a Battlefield Cross bronze statue for the Walk of Honor. TETER’s Jonathan Schlundt who served as Project Manager on the memorial stated, “The entire process was inspirational in many ways—from the participation of staff creating a plethora of designs, the involvement and advice from community activists alongside the VA, and the commitment of local contractors; but the best part was seeing what the project meant to the Veteran’s and their loved ones on opening day.”
The VA stated that the Walk of Honor was a significant undertaking that will enhance the physical, spiritual and mental healing of Veterans, families and visitors. Each November following Veterans Day, the VA will host a dedication ceremony to add names of Veterans to the memorial.
The Design-Build team for the memorial to commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. consisted of McKissack and McKissack, Turner Construction, Tompkins Builders and Gilford Corporation known as (MTTG). The site is adjacent to the President Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial on the Tidal Basin and in a direct line between the Lincoln Memorial, where Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, and the Jefferson Memorial, symbol of liberty and democracy.
The memorial honors Dr. King’s contributions to world peace through non-violent social change. Natural elements such as water, stone, and trees underscore the themes of justice, democracy, and hope. Quotes from Dr. King’s sermons and speeches capture the essence of his message in the commanding tenants of the American Dream – Freedom, Democracy, and Opportunity for All. The centerpiece of the Memorial, the “Stone of Hope”, features a 30-foot likeness of Dr. King.
Grasscrete was installed and is used for access to the back of the auxiliary building which houses the Martin Luther King Jr. bookstore, restrooms and a ranger station. The area is approx 2,000 square feet with the voids being planted with grass. The Grasscrete pour used a Buff Integral Color to provide a cohesiveness to the surroundings. The Grasscrete installation minimizes the non-pervious surfaces and includes a letdown between the sidewalk and street to allow daily access for the Park Ranger and maintenance vehicles.
