W&N DEVELOPMENT: Jordan and Vince arrive midday August 30 to measure and construct the framing...
Progress...
August 31 Vince was waiting for John to open the gate at 6am in heavy mist. More work was accomplished than expected. Inspection was on schedule for Friday, September 1.
Crew arrives at daybreak...
City inspector assessed the work.
Joe checks the progress for his return after concrete pour.
September 6 Concrete Day
Concrete... first pour
16" layer is distributed...
The trianglular brace to set the bolts must be removed before second pour.
The steel parallel support bars will be removed... The structure with base plates repositioned for the second pour.
Later in the afternoon the pad is ready for the second pour
The bolts are taped to protect them for securing the nuts when the mast is mounted.
8" over the first pour exposes the bolts.
Concrete is tested for its consistency.
The crew finished after 7pm. The pink forms to the left will hold soil from Samuel Nicholas and Presley O'Bannan respective burial sites.
Sunday, Sept. 10 Pat Swanson operates the forklift...
John guides the move... avoiding the fence and army tank...
The mast is set in place waiting a lift from the cranes to set it on the pad .
the mast is mounted at Last... September 11, 2023
Chris Johnson, the crane operator, found time in his schedule to erect the mast assisted by Marcelino...
Cranes arrive and underway at 10:00.
Cranes arrive and underway at 10:00.
The mast is hoisted off the ground.
Lift off... 3 tons of aluminum.
Hanging over the foundation pad.
Positioning the mast in place over the bolts.
Balancing, positioning, leveraging...
Fitting the back post and aligning the front... Pat Swanson recorded the process
Chris Johnson diligently scopes placement.
Oh say can you see...
Stand beside her and guide her...
Tears and Cheers • They shall not be forgotten
The thrill of getting it up!
The Mast is standing at last
A diving platform?
A dynamic duo... with patriotic pride and gratitude
Three guys and a mast... Rick, John and Pat
Flag assembly mount is positioned
What so proudly we hailed...
John tightens base plate bolts
the mast is standing... Now it entails details, Details, Details
The mast is finally erected but the work continues... Concrete pedestals will support plaques about the ships and a sealed cavity on the back to insert mementos. A step facing will be formed around the pedestals. The Navy and Marine emblem on the front will flank the mast. Side bars need to be lifted and bolted in place. Welding work will reinforce the structure by the end of the month or so.
Jordan and Vince constructed the pedestals and couldn't wait to see the view from above.
Vince stayed on to thread the three halyards for raising the flags.
Don gave John a major lift to fasten the rig.
Two posts were painstakingly attached to the bar... fitting the bolts and nuts assembly is a three man job.
Don reconfigured the forklift to leverage the bar.
Finishing Touches... September 14, 2023
John measures for the medalians on the pedestals
Flags raised... Roadrunner, Stars&Stripes, Lucky O, Presidential Unit Citations
