Military monument launched in Igo

The first of what officials at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo will be five military monuments has been launched.

"Although it will be the first service-oriented monument at the state-operated facility, it will likely not be the last," Stephen Jorgensen, cemetery administrator said in a statement.

"We included the concept of memorials for all five branches of service — the Air Force, Navy, Marines, Army and Coast Guard — along with this proposal and that concept has been approved by Secretary (Peter J. ) Gravett. Now we have a place for each service memorial and we have set parameters for height and size for all of them," Jorgensen explained.

Gravett is the secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs.

The 14-foot bronze and stainless steel memorial, a symbol of the Air Force's history and mission, is titled "Into the Wild Blue Yonder".

When constructed, it will include a bronze globe 6-feet in diameter resting atop a 3-foot-high pyramid with an 8-foot-square base.

Encircling the globe and thrusting 6 to 8 feet upward will be a stainless steel contrail or aircraft path ending in a deltoid-shaped aerospace vehicle.

"Each side of the pyramid base will feature a different inscription, including a memorial dedication, an explanation of the memorial's symbolism, lyrics to the Air Force song and the evolution of the Air Force," said retired Air Force Col. Pete Stiglich of Cottonwood, who is chairing the Air Force memorial committee.

Assisting with design development is local sculptor, Gideon Carl Turner III, of Redding.

"What we are doing is creating a shrine to our Veterans, both living and dead," Jorgensen explained. "It has never been my vision for this place to simply be a cemetery. A shrine must contain a variety of memorials where people can come to appreciate the history, sacrifice and military contributions of the countless veterans who have served our country so unselfishly."

When the memorials to the other branches will be launched is uncertain, and will depend largely on someone stepping up to spearhead those efforts.

A memorial to the Vietnam veterans also is under way at the cemetery.