Center of the Universe - Continued

A multi-figure piece about a multi-dimensional reality -

Veteran's Monument

We couldn't have asked for more as a packed house filled the Makefield-Highlands golf course Saturday night for our first big fundraiser on the monument project. I was really overwhelmed with the generosity of the people who attended, both with their financial support and their kind encouragement. My parents were both there as well as friends and neighbors and lots of people I hadn't met before. Leading up to the live auction of a limited edition print I donated, I gave this little speech to a raucous crowd:

Anyone who knows me, knows I have a great passion for the idea of 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.' It is my belief that the single greatest development in human history was when our government was founded with this concept at its core. This 'idea'; however, is just words without those men and women who willingly put their lives in harms way to defend this concept. The clay I used to sculpt the memorial piece for Engine 6 is the same exact clay I am using for the Veteran's Monument. When the firefighters ran into the burning towers in an attempt to rescue perfect strangers, they too, were defending this idea. The clay I am using is the same exact clay that came to me from my mentor, Laszlo Ispanky, who escaped from communist Hungary with nothing. He went on to use this clay to create pieces that circle the globe. Pieces that celebrate the human experience and the quest for freedom. I am honored to be able to contribute to this project and to donate a work to help make this a reality.

As the bidding started, it was rather thrilling to see so many people waving their numbers as the dollars ran up, even if one of the bidders was my mother and father :) Thank you to everyone, and thank you to Brad and Linda for being so generous in the final purchase of the print. Thank you also to Robin and Eric, Amy and Steve, Ed and Grace, Marty and Cindy, George and Maryanne for your generosity and support.

For more on the project please see: Veteran's Monument

Three Stories - Worth Your Time

Wheat Field Bound

Mixed Media - Wheat, Barbed Wire, Fifty Coat

3' x 6'

August, 2009

Whatever You Can See & Believe You Can Achieve

Veteran's Monument Event

Hello!

In case you haven’t heard or just need a reminder, there is a Live and Silent Auction on Sat., Nov. 7th at the Makefield Highlands Golf Course, 1418 Woodside Rd. from 7 to 10:30 pm to raise funds for the veterans monument at Veterans Square Park on the corner of Edgewood and Heacock Roads.

It will be hosted by PHS Boys’ Varsity Basketball Coach and all-around good guy Frank Sciolla. Tickets are only $35 and include appetizers, desserts, music, and games. Cash Bar.

· Our Vision: To create a timeless monument to honor veterans of the past, present and future in a peaceful, community park setting

· We hope to educate our children about the sacrifices of our servicemen and women in an uplifting environment

· We have a design team donating their talents to create this monument

· We are a nonprofit and have the support of our board of supervisors and many respected local businesses and individuals


There are over 120 items to bid on across the spectrum – across all price points – truly something for everyone. Here’s a sampling…

Do you have a special birthday or anniversary to celebrate, or want to throw a party?

· How would you like Chef Eben of the Yardley Inn to come to your home, prepare a 5-course meal for 6 people, each course paired with an extraordinary wine? You help select the menu; all preparation and clean-up taken care of.

· Or how about visiting the gorgeous grounds and private party room at Crossings Vineyard and Winery – a VIP party for 8 with 8 to 9 wine selections and appetizers, music and more.

· Extended family coming for the holidays? How about a moonlight wagon ride through Shady Brook Farm’s 15th Holiday Light Show followed by a party for 20 in a heated tent featuring wine, cheese, fruit, hot cider and cookies – appropriate for the whole family and hosted by Shady Brook’s Director of Fun!

· Adults Only: Local band “Run to Sandy” will entertain at your home, with a margarita machine at your disposal. You just need the chips and salsa!

· House Party featuring “SixString” Acoustic Duo, playing classic hits from the 1970’s on, accompanied by pizza and/or BBQ



Collectible Art:

· Veterans Square Sculptor Robert Girandola is donating a framed, signed limited edition print of the sculpture he created for NYC Engine Co. 6 which lost 4 firefighters on 9-11

· Viet Nam Pilot Sanford Kaplan is donating 2 one-of-a-kind collectible Viet Nam-era model planes, with 6 and 8 ft. wing spans

· Art from renowned local artist Colleen Attara, who creates beautiful, collectible one-of-a-kind pieces of art from recycled products

· Many pieces of pottery, art pottery, blown glass, framed art, jewelry, and tickets to local attractions, theaters, and museums


For the Sports Enthusiast: Tickets to the Flyers, Sixers, Phillies, signed Sports Memorabilia, a ski package, yoga lessons, a brand new bike, and a chance to coach a Pennsbury High School Boys Varsity Basketball Game!

For the Foody: Many restaurant certificates and gourmet food, coffee, tea, and baskets of good cheer! Wine-a-month from Rose Bank Winery. Magnum of wine from Truchard Vineyards of California which hosted a wine-and-food-pairing dinner at the Yardley Inn

For Kids: 6 months of Karate, many summer camps including basketball, tennis, horseback riding, acting, piano lessons, dance classes, birthday parties and camps at the NAC. A quart of Ice-cream-a-month at Uncle Dave’s of Shady Brook; a tour of the LMT police station with Chief Coluzzi, a ride in a patrol car, photo and finger prints; a tour of the fire station

Getaways:
· Weekend in the DC area, special passes to gallery floor of the US House of Representatives, and photo op with US Rep and Veteran Patrick Murphy

· Visit to Harrisburg and lunch with PA State Rep. Steve Santarsiero and a trip to Hershey

· A weekend in a lovely 5 bedroom, 3 bath Ocean City home

· A weekend at the elegant Princeton Hyatt, two dinners, and tickets to the McCarter Theater

· A getaway to the lovely Inn at Stoney Hill in New Hope and dinner at Marsha Brown’s


Many lovely items for the home, and a home energy audit and Sensaphone Security System; professional services including interior design, computer consulting, photography, photo transfer to a DVD, teeth whitening, framing services and landscape/lawn services

Don’t forget to pamper yourself with several enticing spa and salon opportunities, plus much more!

How can you resist? Come for an evening of fun, meet some new people and support a great community effort to honor those who serve!!

For tickets: visit our website www.lmtmemorial.org or contact John via email at jfiduccia@gmail.com or via phone - 267-566-2056. Hurry, tickets are going fast! Tickets are also available from members, and from McCaffreys, Shady Brook, and Crossing Vineyards.

Veterans Memorial Project

For Immediate Release
September 30, 2009

Robert Girandola Presents His Lower Makefield Township Veterans Memorial Sculpture

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP – Pennsylvania artist Robert Girandola, working as the sculptor with the Omnia Group, is presenting his Veterans Memorial sculpture for township approval today in Lower Makefield.

Since December 19th, 2007, the Lower Makefield Veterans Committee has been working to bring a veterans memorial to Lower Makefield. The presentation of the proposed monument will take place at the Yardley-Makefield Library at 7:30PM on Wednesday, September 30th.

Mr. Girandola’s contribution, a sculpture of an eagle taking flight, is intended to honor the veterans who lost their lives defending the United States of America. Along with its surrounding architecture it will create a space for reflection and peace.

“For me, the eagle itself has come to symbolize the human spirit taking flight. I do think it is a universal and timeless symbol open to anyone who wants to live free,” said Girandola. He feels the memorial will further distinguish Lower Makefield as its own community with its own sense of pride. “Years ago there was a local veteran's plaque located in the town but it disappeared over the years. There are scores of veterans and I can tell it's very important to them.”

Mr. Girandola has been chosen twice to participate in the prestigious “Art of the Northeast” show in New Canaan, Connecticut. He was named Yardley News Artist of the Year in 2006 for his Engine 6 memorial “We Draw Strength From Each Other,” a piece in bronze honoring four firefighters who had lost their lives on 9/11. The piece is now on permanent display near the World Trade Center.

The small-scale model being presented today is made from clay and wire and measures approximately 24” wide and 15” high.

Contact:
Robert Girandola
info@robertgirandola.com
http://www.robertgirandola.com

Engine 6 Memorial

We Draw Strength From Each Other

Engine 6 Memorial

September 11, 2001

We Draw Strength From Each Other

I gave this speech on October 15, 2006 at a dedication ceremony in NYC - honoring four firefighters from Engine 6 who died in the North Tower on 9/11.

A person is what they do, no more and no less

A person can become what they admire.

I was at work on that day, I heard the towers had collapsed

and I ran home.

I was eighty miles away from the danger, and I ran home.

I put on the television. I watched as my head swam.

Fear, confusion, anger, frustration and sadness.

I waited impatiently for my family to come home.

And when they did, we hugged, cried.

And we watched the television to see if other, braver men and women would make things right in the world again.

We're here to honor four such men.

Lt. Thomas O'Hagan

FF William Johnston

FF Thomas Holohan

FF Paul Beyer

All of the 343 active duty firefighters who lost their lives that day. And all of the men and women who chose to put fear aside and CHOSE to make things right again. I deeply admire you.

In order to create this piece, I listened to the stories of the men of Engine 6. I read the letters their loved ones wrote. I watched that day unfold again, and again.

Amidst the cloud of pulverized concrete and glass, an image emerged.

I saw fallen heroes and the walking wounded.

I saw men and women who spent their days hoping and praying, digging, searching, thinking, tearing, praying and more hoping, praying.

I saw lives ruined and families rocked and whole communities wracked with sorrow.

And I saw men and women who CHOSE to do something about it.

I asked Billy Green, the only man from Engine 6 to have made it out of the the North Tower, "What were you most proud of that day?" and he said -

"We stood fast."

In the face of overwhelming destruction

when a nation sat in dumbstruck fear,

these men stood fast, and then,

proceeded up those stairs,

to put out "that fire."

Over thirty flights of stairs,

Turnout coats,

Soaring temperatures,

Tools

Roll-ups

I asked Billy, "How did you guys go on?" and he said,

"Well, we kind of drew strength from each other."

These men may not have been perfect, but they became perfect at that moment and in that hour. And it was this strength that transcended the darkness and the evil that was transpiring above them. I have read of firefighters despairing that they themselves did not save enough, or very little. To you, my brothers, I must say, your mere presence brought comfort to those in the final moments of their lives. You inspire in the minds and hearts in those around you an idea. The idea that you might not be perfect, but you will try to be. That you may not be able to save, but you will try to save. For in the end, all of the men and women who CHOSE to save.

And these four men.

Lt. Tom O'Hagan

FF Billy Johnston

FF Tommy Holohan

FF Paulie Beyer

You bring the promise of hope.

You draw strength from each other.

May we draw on that strength,

so that we might have the courage to do

what we should do

in the hour

of our calling.