Dave Shively
06-14-2007, 8:23 PM
I made this large plaque with one thing in mind, to honor all Medal of Honor
recipients past, present and future for what they did for our country. These men
(and one woman) are true hero’s.
The plaque measures 48" x 30" and weighs 56 pounds. The “ribbon” is made from
two pieces of 1 3/8" walnut and then the thirteen stars were lasered on followed by
some gold filling. There are three different medals, one for the Air Force, one for the Army and one that is shared by the Navy/Marines/Coast Guard. To make the
different medals I wanted something at least ½" thick but not from one piece. So I
resawed walnut into about 3/32" thick and then glued four pieces together alternating the grain 90 degrees. I then lasered cut and design on the appropriate
medal. I cut brass rod to match the rings on the original medal and also cut a brass
anchor for the Navy/Marines. Then I glued up some red oak and hand carved
(sculpted) to give it a rough texture. Next came a sheet of 3/4" birch ply with a
purpleheart boarder which I screwed the oak piece. Finish is a PRE-CAT lacquer.
I was fortunate to be one of about 1100 to attend the grand opening of the new Medal of Honor Museum in Charleston, South Carolina a few weeks ago to hand deliver this plaque. I donated it to the Museum to honor these recipients. There are
only 110 recipients still today and I got to meet and see 42 of them so my little
donating was well worth it. If anyone lives near Charleston or is visiting soon,
please go out to Patriots Point and the USS Yorktown (where the museum is) and
tell me where it is hanging and what you think of it.
Sorry about the shadows in the main plaque picture. It hides some of the laser work.
The last picture is my daughter and me on the fight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown before the ceremony began.
Dave
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259695890.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259528368.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259528344.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259522085.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259522099.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259522146.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259522253.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259522173.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259706550.jpg
recipients past, present and future for what they did for our country. These men
(and one woman) are true hero’s.
The plaque measures 48" x 30" and weighs 56 pounds. The “ribbon” is made from
two pieces of 1 3/8" walnut and then the thirteen stars were lasered on followed by
some gold filling. There are three different medals, one for the Air Force, one for the Army and one that is shared by the Navy/Marines/Coast Guard. To make the
different medals I wanted something at least ½" thick but not from one piece. So I
resawed walnut into about 3/32" thick and then glued four pieces together alternating the grain 90 degrees. I then lasered cut and design on the appropriate
medal. I cut brass rod to match the rings on the original medal and also cut a brass
anchor for the Navy/Marines. Then I glued up some red oak and hand carved
(sculpted) to give it a rough texture. Next came a sheet of 3/4" birch ply with a
purpleheart boarder which I screwed the oak piece. Finish is a PRE-CAT lacquer.
I was fortunate to be one of about 1100 to attend the grand opening of the new Medal of Honor Museum in Charleston, South Carolina a few weeks ago to hand deliver this plaque. I donated it to the Museum to honor these recipients. There are
only 110 recipients still today and I got to meet and see 42 of them so my little
donating was well worth it. If anyone lives near Charleston or is visiting soon,
please go out to Patriots Point and the USS Yorktown (where the museum is) and
tell me where it is hanging and what you think of it.
Sorry about the shadows in the main plaque picture. It hides some of the laser work.
The last picture is my daughter and me on the fight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown before the ceremony began.
Dave
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259695890.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259528368.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259528344.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259522085.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259522099.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259522146.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259522253.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259522173.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/259706550.jpg