INTERRUPTED JOURNEY: UW MEMORIAL HONORS THOSE WHO FELL IN WORLD WAR II

Tribute initiated by classes of 1943-47 now open for public viewing

Contact: Amy Gautschi (206) 685-9221
agautsch@u.washington.edu

//FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE//

"There'll be love and laughter and peace ever after ... Tomorrow, when the world is free."

SEATTLE (May 23, 2001)—These lyrics, inscribed on the new WWII memorial at the University of Washington, sum up the emotions that inspired UW professor emeritus Brewster Denny to join with his fellow classmates from the war years in the production of a memorial honoring UW students, alumni, faculty and staff who served and died during World War II.

When the memorial, titled Interrupted Journey, was completed on May 16, Brewster paused to look for the names of his friends inscribed on the flagpole—he counted 22 of them. "It's a great joy to see this project finished in time for Memorial Day," said Brewster. "It's been more than 50 years since the war, but we haven't forgotten our friends and fellow members of the UW community who died serving our country."

Interrupted Journey was designed by local artist Jon Gierlich, who teaches at Cornish College of the Arts. Its title recalls a time when the war was at its peak globally, and Americans were feeling its effects in their daily lives. The commemorative sculpture uses "rings of memory" to symbolize the transition from peace to war and finally to peace again. Gierlich designed the piece so that the rings surround the flagpole that is located at the south end of Memorial Way on the UW campus. The rings are set up in a way that both allows and encourages viewers to enter the sculpture, making them an active part of the tribute.

Although the piece contains the names of almost 600 veterans, space has been left for the inscription of any additional names that have not been included already. To view a list of names online, go to http://www.washington.edu/alumni/wwii/index.html. If you have a name of a UW student, alumnus, staff person or faculty member to add, you may contact Angelica Macklin of the UW Alumni Association at (206) 543-0540.

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