War Literature: Architectural Memorial Design For Iraq War Veterans

Your University of Affiliation
Architectural Memorial Design for Iraq War Veterans
Your Name
Your Subject and Section
Your professor’s name
December 20, 2017
Introduction
From the years 2003 to 2011, countless soldiers have given their lives in the Middle East in order protect our own country and liberty from the threats posed by the ruthless leader Saddam Hussein. From the United States alone, about three thousand veteran soldiers have died while thousands of others have been injured severely (Encyclopædia Britannica). After the fall of Hussein and the end of the years characterized by violence in Iraq, our government have done its utmost efforts in helping the people who were left by those who died, and especially the veterans who have experienced the most severe repercussions from the ensuing war. Some of these efforts include providing financial compensations for the families as well as free counseling for soldiers who are afflicted with PTSDs (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). However, despite all these efforts, there are still a lot of families of veteran soldiers who feel disconnected from these efforts due to the trauma of losing their loved ones. Following from this, it is clear that as they did their part in serving the nation, we must also do our best to serve them and the families in the form of creating a “memorial” where they could feel integrated and connected again with the sacrifices of their loved-ones. Particularly, as the families feel incomplete due to their loss, we must focus this memorial in helping them fill the emptiness inside. In order to do this, it would be best if the memorial is characterized by wide spaces thick columns and a lot of openings. The overall structure should be a colossal tower with a carillon in the top and massive Corinthian columns at the bottom. This would provide a backdrop the huge marble tablet that would contain all the names of our heroes and laud them for the victory that we all share. The reason for the usage of thick Corinthian columns to support both the tablet and the carillon on top is because, throughout the years, these elements have always been a symbol of strength and steadfast moral principles that guide great men in history (Craven). The carillon extending to the heights of the sky represents both our praises as well as the moral principles that are taken from the divine since carillons are almost always associated with religious infrastructures like cathedrals. As per the wide openings and expanding the structure of the memorial, we are then paying tribute to the ideals of our nation that they are fighting for. This includes the virtues of freedom, liberty, and human rights, which should be inalienable from every human being.
In contrast with this structure are a waterfall and a fountain which is located at a distance from the main structure. The waterfall should run from the huge granite tablet and to the stairs, which separates and make it two equally long structures that then ends in a fo...