2006 Mayor’s Arts Award.

Presented by Mayor Mark Asmundson and the Bellingham Arts Commission

Memorial Park Restoration Project.

Honoring individuals and organizations who have contributed significantly to the arts and cultural environment of Bellingham.

Memorial Park Memorial and Restoration:
Dedicated to all those from Whatcom County who have died in combat in all American wars.  Separated into a public plaza and a sacred memorial.  The plaza has benches along its north side, arranged to encourage interaction and promote community and offer an opportunity to reflect, view memorial park at large and socialize.  The memorial proper dedicated to soldiers, is located directly east of the entry plaza.  Vertical granite slabs in a circular pattern appear to have regular geometry from a distance, representing the overly simplistic justification of war.  Upon closer examination, the geometry is not so clear, not as easily understood as first presented.  Once in the memorial, the patterns, textures and colors are representative of the confusion of war, the destruction of war and the futility of war.  Through agony, sacrifice and destruction rises the memory of those who have fought and died.  Engraved in solid polished granite, names of the dead reflect the likeness of those living.  Those grieving for loved ones past.