Phase I: Design and Initial Construction
| In the 2000-2001 season, the
Remembrance Area was conceived jointly by the WES and the Order of the Arrow. |
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With the help of a grant from
the National Order of the Arrow, phase I of the Remembrance Area construction was carried out in the Spring of 2001. |
| This phase included
purchasing and hauling of all materials, the clearing of the area and entrance trail, the construction and installation of the three Remembrance Area display stands, and the construction and installation of the Remembrance Area entrance gate. |
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Phase 2: Final Construction
| In the 2003-2004 season,
phase 2 of the construction process began. As the first list of names for the Remembrance Area was being developed, a plan was developed to display those names. The Remembrance Area committee agreed that the names should be displayed on brass plates on a hardwood backing, protected by tempered glass for security and longevity. |
| In the Winter of 2004, the 3
display boards were made of 3/4" red oak faced plywood and surrounded by solid red oak. The plywood was cut to shape, and the solid wood edging was mitered to fit around the plywood. The solid wood edge pieces were joined to the plywood and to each other using a common woodworking technique using biscuits. The boards were clamped over night. |
| Once the glue had set, the
boards were sanded extensively and a roman ogee style edge treatment was created using a router. This added hint of elegance to the boards and gave them more of a finished look. |
| Finally, the boards were
sanded again, stained golden oak, and covered with three coats of high gloss varnish. |
) Aligning Plates ) Drilling and Aligning Plates |
) Numbered Backs |
Once the 3 boards were
prepared and all brass plates had arrived, the time came to affix the plaques. This was an extremely detailed and painstakingly precise step of the process. Each individual name plate had to be placed using specially designed lay-out materials, and then the board was pre-drilled to receive the screws that attach the brass plates. However, an additional step was necessary: in order to make sure the plates lined up perfectly, each one needed to be assigned to its own spot. In other words, the plates were not identical and could not be switched with other plates. So, the back of each plate was numbered, and the display boards were numbered as well. Now, when a large number of plates are removed to engrave a "class" of new honorees, we know exactly where each goes on the display board so that all lines stay straight and the holes line-up. |
| Finally, each name
plate was attached to the three Remembrance Area boards by hand. |
) Attaching Plates |
) The Last Screw |
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In addition to
the name plates, of which there are 396, each board has at its corners four square plates. These plates contain the organizations that the honorees of the Remembrance Area were likely to have been involved in. Each board contains the symbol for the Northeast Illinois Council, Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Scout Reservation, the Wilderness Engineering Society, and the symbol for the Order of the Arrow. In addition, each board contains a title plate that reads, "REMEMBRANCE AREA". Just the first board contains the dedication plate which reads, "THIS REMEMBRANCE AREA IS DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO WERE A PART OF THE SCOUTING MOVEMENT. THEY HAVE DEPARTED, BUT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN." Finally, the bottom of the first board has a plate that commemorates the day of the Remembrance Area's formal dedication, July 4, 2004. |
| Finally,
three signs were routed and painted for the
Remembrance Area. One hangs over the entrance gate, one directs people from East Camp, and one directs people from West Camp and the Administration Building Area. |
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The boards were
brought to camp in the Spring of |
| This
process was completed for all three stands,
and the Remembrance Area display stands were complete! |
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The formal dedication was held July 4,
2004. The day before this, a crew of Ordeal candidates spread fresh wood chips in the area and along its entrance trail which really enhanced the area and the dedication ceremony. |
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