Forged in the fight Eads foundry's unit will shine at home of 101st (Screaming Eagles)

The Commercial Appeal ^ | 6/12/05 | Jon W. Sparks

[GailA]

Forged in the fight

Eads foundry's unit will shine at home of 101st

By Jon W. Sparks Contact June 12, 2005

Standing in the same room with the unfinished warriors is unnerving.

Four life-size figures loom in the sculpture studio of Andrea Holmes Lugar in Eads. They represent soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division who have faced the foe in World War II, Vietnam and both Gulf wars.

Their destiny is to become part of a monument at Fort Campbell, Ky., headquarters of the 101st. Until then, they will undergo an amazing process of being shaped and then cast in bronze for their dedication on Memorial Day 2006.

The artist and her husband, Larry Lugar, have run the Lugar Foundry and Gallery on U.S. 64 since 1991. They cast for artists and organizations from all over, from the coveted W. C. Handy Awards to fine sculptures. The Elvis Presley statue near the Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division headquarters was sculpted by Andrea and cast at the foundry.

In fact, the Elvis statue helped the Lugars get the 101st commission. They were approached by the committee headed by retired First Sgt. Billy Colwell, who designed the monument. But he wanted four soldiers standing atop the inverted black marble obelisk that is now at Fort Campbell.

Colwell liked the Lugars' work and a $180,000 contract was awarded in January.

Andrea is using the face of Melvin Graham as a model for the Vietnam soldier. Graham is a soldier although not with the 101st. But he is an Iraq veteran and is returning later this year.

The figure representing current and future wars is of a woman in helicopter gear.

The clay work will be done by September if not earlier. But then the six-month course of casting gets under way.

Rubber molds are made of parts of each figure -- it could be as many as 12 -- and the parts go through a process that has changed little since ancient times.

Ceramic coatings and improved welding processes have cut down the time it takes to create the works, but technology hasn't removed the need to pay particular attention to detail.

"The bronze will be about 3/8 -inch thick. We check for flaws, seam lines not matching and correct them," Andrea says.

When the time comes to pour the bronze, temperatures will reach around 2,000 degrees in the foundry. Air hammers, welding and retexturing follows.

Details, details, details.

And when it is all done, the silent sculptures will be transported to Campbell and carefully mounted, perhaps next May.

They'll be hidden until the dedication when the cover will be pulled away.

And Colwell's dream will be realized, to honor the soldiers who have worn the "Screaming Eagle" patch in America's defense.

[GailA]

[battlegearboat]

I visit "Old Abe", high atop the Wisconsin Memorial at the Vicksburg Battlefield in Vicksburg, Mississippi ...for you see, my great grandfather's name appears in bronze below with all the others of the Wisconsin 14th volunteers.

"Old Abe" is the eagle atop the large obelisk and the original mascot of the 101st Airborne.

[Servant of the 9]

Rubber molds are made of parts of each figure -- it could be as many as 12 -- and the parts go through a process that has changed little since ancient times.

Ceramic coatings and improved welding processes have cut down the time it takes to create the works, but technology hasn't removed the need to pay particular attention to detail.

Rubber molds and welding are not exactly methods used in ancient times. This system, in fact, has nothing to do with conventional bronze casting except molten metal.

And the title is one of the worst ever published.

SO9