Introduction

Fallen Feather Memorial Introduction 

The Ohio Fallen Feather Memorial is a memorial to honor all Ohio warriors lost because of the war on Terrorism. The Memorial is a work of wood art that has been created by approximately 200 craft persons and wood artists from all across Ohio.  Each of these artists brings varying skills and interpretations to his/her work.  The Memorial consists of 3 parts: Bald Eagle feathers carved in wood; a wall on which the feathers are mounted; and a book in which the lives of the lost are profiled.

The feather carvers were asked to follow three basic guidelines.  The first guideline is that the wood used must have been grown in Ohio. Some of the Bald Eagle feathers are carved using wood that is from the resting places of those that fell.  Others used wood where the deceased may have played as they grew.  In at least one case the carver chose the wood in part because the last part of the last name of the fallen means “fir” and so the feather was carved from Scotch pine -- a fir tree. Not all the wood used is as intimate as that, but all the individuals represented on the wall are Ohioans and the wood is Ohio wood. 

The second guideline is that the wood artists were asked to personalize the feather to the individual being honored. The carvers were given much license to accomplish this. Some used the wood itself as mentioned above.  Others used graphics, inscribed word, or a style of carving to achieve this.  At a minimum the warrior’s name appears on the feather.  Many of the carvers researched the fallen individuals and used this gathered information to make their feather very personalized.

The third guideline is that carvers were to follow a given template. This template is from a feather that grew from an Ohio Bald Eagle and is stored at the Ohio State University of Biological Diversity.  The feather chosen for the template is the primary flight feather.  These feathers provide thrust and lift to the eagle which equates to flight -- as our service members provide power (thrust) to lift our way of life so we, as a nation, may soar.

The wall where the feathers stand is made mostly of Ohio Buckeye wood.  What wood is more appropriate for an Ohio memorial honoring Ohio’s fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan than wood from Ohio’s state tree?  The border around the wall is Ohio Oak, a strong and sturdy wood, and we must be strong both at peace and at war. The Buckeye is stained in what I call an Arterial Red to represent the blood that has been lost.  The border Oak is stained in black (Ebony) to symbolize the mourning of those represented on the Fallen Feather Memorial.

The eagle, center and high on the wall, holds an olive branch in one claw which symbolizes peace.  The eagle holds arrows in the other claw which shows strength. Traditionally, if an eagle is carved while our nation is at peace it will face the olive branch and if our nation is at war the eagle will face the quiver of arrows.  This eagle faces towards peace (going against tradition) to honor those resting below.  If you look closely you will see a tear falling from this eagle’s eye.  On the war side of the eagle a primary flight feather is missing from the wing… many feathers rest below.

Each of the fallen feathers sits in a 50 caliber shell casing which is mounted on the Fallen Feather Memorial wall.  The shell casings came from a company in Canton (50 BMG Supply), staying on the Ohio theme. The shell casing speaks to the fact that these individuals were lost as a result of war.  Some said that the 50 caliber was used because there are 50 States. Others say because a 50 caliber shell casing was the best fit for the feathers to fit into.  What is sure is that a shell casing is used to personify that these individuals represented on the Fallen Feather Memorial are our war dead.  There are 17 rows of shell casings on this memorial. Ohio was the 17th State to enter the Union.

There needed to be something which tied our recent losses with all of our fallen service members.  The idea came to me as I was picking up worn and tattered flags in a cemetery.  Pieces of the “Blood Stripe” (the red stripe of the United States of America flag) were taken from these unserviceable flags and placed in each of the shell casings on the Fallen Feather Memorial.  These stripes are from Ohio veteran’s graves of those who served from all periods of our history starting with the Revolutionary War and going through 2014.  Now our most recent losses lay with those who served throughout our history.

There is one feather on the wall that sits high and to the viewer’s right.  While the other feathers sit below the mounted eagle, this one is placed higher and is forged from a blacksmith rather than carved from wood.  This feather is there to represent those that will fall in wars to come.  Since these are not yet lost, the feather is not a fallen feather.

So far the Fallen Feather Memorial has been in the abstract with feathers representing the fallen, “Blood Stripes” for those veterans from our history, 17 rows of shells, the wall stains, and so on.  But there was something missing.  There needed to be a way to share more about the lives of these people who are represented on the Fallen Feather Memorial.  A book was created using words written by others that speaks to the lives that have been given.  These words were taken from the news, social media, from condolences and obituaries.  The intent was to focus on the lives and not the passing of our fallen.  Their sacrifices speak to character; how they lived formed their character.  When space allowed I also tried to give a little information about the wood carver and the wood / carving.

The Ohio Fallen Feather Memorial is different from some in that it is Ohioans honoring Ohio’s fallen with their skills, their tears, their hearts and minds. Many beautiful memorials have been created where funds were raised to hire an agency to chisel the memorial or bronze it. The Fallen Feather Memorial has more hands on the creative side – many using their hands to say thank you to those that sacrificed their lives and to the families of the fallen, we share your loss.  These losses are close to home. The Ohio Fallen Feather Memorial is a home grown, close to home effort to honor our loved ones and neighbors who sacrificed all during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The Fallen Feather Memorial is truly a complex piece with many hidden or less obvious messages shared.  As you reflect on this work you may see something -- a hidden word or picture. This memorial will speak to you through the hands that created it and the lives that are represented on this wall.

Graham Webb III

Fallen Feather Project Lead