World War II memorial arrives in Savannah
SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - After eight years, and traveling close to 500 miles, the highly anticipated World War II Memorial is in Savannah.
The structure is truly a work of art.
The day so many veterans, and so many World War II heroes have been waiting for, is now one step closer to reality.
"A World Divided" is the theme for the memorial. It has four giant spherical quarters replicating the Earth and weighing three tons each.
After eight long years, the men who helped bring a World War II memorial to Savannah had a chance to physically touch it.
"I couldn't believe it was in front of me finally," Bill Quinan told WTOC. "We are just elated it turned out so beautiful."
"It was like a kid touching his brand new toy. It was an unbelievable feeling," Jimmy Ray said. "For those who said we'd never do it. We've done it."
Jimmy Ray and Bill Quinan with the Chatham County Veterans Council have been involved in the memorial process since day one. Almost a decade after the idea was first brought up, the memorial is now reality.
"I just feel so great. The result of this mans work is just fantastic," Quinan said.
"I rushed out here and stood in the mud to take pictures. I was so excited," Eric Meyerhoff told WTOC.
Meyerhoff was approached by the City of Savannah eight years ago to help design the memorial, a tribute to more than 500 men and women from the Coastal Empire who died in WWII.
"This was a World War, and I wanted that theme," Meyerhoff said. "The world was divided. Pacific theater. European theater. And I came up with the world apart."
Now, his vision has come to life.
"It is what I had envisioned," Meyerhoff said. "It's a great milestone in what we've been doing."
In 30 days, this work of art will take it's rightful place in downtown Savannah, just one more trip before the project is complete.
"It's going to be beautiful on River Street," Quinan said.
"I think it is Christmas in July," Ray said.
Work on the foundation starts next week along River Street, with the final phase in about 30 days of moving the monument one last time. All 500 plus names of the men and women from Chatham County who gave their lives in World War II will be placed on the side panels of this beautiful structure.
This past Thursday more than $88,000 was raised during the second phone-a-thon WTOC put on, working alongside the Veterans Council with major help from the Red Cross.
The total for the two phone-a-thons is now more than a quarter million dollars. We're roughly 80 percent there and it's not too late to give. You can still donate online at www.veteranscouncilofchathamcounty.com/site/donate.
Copyright 2010 WTOC. All rights reserved.
