First phase of military tribute project unveiled

By: CRAIG TENBROECK - Staff Writer | Saturday, August 18, 2007 10:20 PM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- Al Hoyo thought he was heading to an ordinary family picnic Saturday at Grape Day Park.

Instead, two dozen family members surprised him with a special 60th birthday gift ---- a personalized stone plaque to be displayed as part of a public art project honoring the men and women of the United States military.

"I just kind of lost it," said the smiling but teary-eyed Hoyo, an Army veteran, as he posed for pictures by the park's new "Wall of Courage."

The first phase of the project ---- a natural stone wall with space for more than 500 plaques ---- was unveiled Saturday before a crowd of several dozen people.

For the second phase, sculptor Gale Pruitt will add three life-size bronze statures, honoring the past, present and future of the armed services.

"We really want to honor people, not just from Escondido, but from all over," the artist said.

The statues are scheduled for a Veterans Day unveiling.

"That's going to be the biggie," said Marty Tiedeman, a member of the downtown Escondido arts community helping to raise money for the project.

Saturday's celebration featured a song-and-dance number by a trio of Patio Playhouse performers and a flag ceremony by the Camp Pendleton Young Marines.

An attendee named Jack Smith, a long-time Escondido resident who spent nearly three decades in the Navy, said he only learned of the tribute when his employer ---- H Johnson Furniture ---- purchased a plaque in his honor.

"I was flabbergasted," Smith said. "I was absolutely stunned."

The project's genesis came in 2004, when students in Angie Hazel's special education class at Oak Hill Elementary School, came up with the concept. Members of the local arts community then formed a committee to help raise money.

"This is really important to the kids because it teaches them to be citizens ... and they get to be recognized," said Hazel, who was accompanied by three beaming students wearing customized "Wall of Courage" shirts.

Hazel said the tribute committee has raised about half of its $100,000 goal. The largest donation ---- $25,000 ---- came from "The Forty and Eight," a fraternal veterans organization.

About 90 tiles have been sold for $250 each, Hazel said.

One was purchased by Escondido residents Thomas and Adam Brown as a thank you to their father, who retired in 2004 after two decades in the Army Reserve.

"He gave so much to our family," Adam, 19, said.

Bob Pruitt, the artist's husband, stood proudly by the wall and described the work that had gone into it thus far.

"We've been working steady on this project for almost a year," he said. "And we're talking daily."

The use of light, natural materials, rather than more traditional dark stone, was designed to make it feel like a tribute, he said, and "not a memorial."

"We don't have anything black on there because it's not about death," he said. "It's about saying thank you."

Contact staff writer Craig TenBroeck at (760) 901-4062 or ctenbroeck@nctimes.com.