The Shape of Sacrifice

摘要

June 6, 1944, was a cold, dark, cloudy day along the northern coast of France. When the Higgins boats carrying allied troops slapped their gangways into the cold sea 60 years ago this month and released their human cargo onto the beach, withering machine gun fire greeted the soldiers from German bunkers high above the beach. Before the day was over, 6,603 Americans had lost their lives in what became known as D-Day - the start of the allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. When planning started for a National D-Day Memorial to be built in Bedford, Va., the project's consulting engineer, Lawrence Perry & Associates of Roanoke, Va., contacted us at Roman Fountains to design a commemorative watershape. We were pleased and excited by the opportunity, but as the project moved forward, our excitement was replaced by a tremendous sense of responsibility and our awareness of the need to handle the project with the utmost levels of sensitivity and respect. Not only were we asked to design the hydraulic, mechanical and electrical systems for a unique watershape, but we were also being engaged to participate in encompassing and interpreting a historic event that forever changed the world. As the work moved forward, everyone on the project team was profoundly aware that we had been entrusted with the memories and deep emotions of D-Day veterans and their families. It was a humbling and exhilarating experience.