Dave Shively
02-25-2008, 6:37 PM
Some of you may remember other projects I have done for Medal of Honor recipients. I am a big advocate of these men and women that went above and beyond the call of duty.
I sorry if this gets a little long, but I think you need to hear the whole story about this project.
First off this display case was built at the request of my very good friend and MOH recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams. He earned his medal on Iwo Jima on February 23rd
1945 and is one of five Marines from WWII still living today.
The case was made to hold a large tapestry 53” x 67” depicting Woody’s MOH. It was made by a prominent Italian lady living in West Virginia, At the time of making this tapestry she was almost blind. Several years earlier she made a tapestry for than CIA
Director George H Bush. She wanted to hand deliver it to Bush and would not take no for an answer. So she made the trip to Langley and handed it to Mr. Bush. She made another tapestry for the now deceased Pope. Again she would not take no for an answer and flew to the Vatican and handed at to the Pope. Woody’s tapestry is a one of a kind and was appraised at Sothby’s in New York for major dollars. He wanted it to be viewed by all so he going to donate it at this writing to The Pritzker Military Library in Chicago.
The case is made from red oak. The dimensions are 65 inches wide, 79inches long, 48 inches tall and weighs somewhere between 425 to 450 pounds. The glass alone weighs 90 pounds. Woody wanted the legs to collapse just in case it would sit low on the floor.
I was able to pivot the back legs down below the apron. The two angled supports detach
to let the legs come down. They are held in place with two dowels that “pin” them to the legs. They are pulled tight to the legs with a small piece of angle iron and a bolt. To release the legs to pivot, all that needs to be done is pull out a ½” pin. The two front legs are held with just one bolt and some angled support pieces. With the lid weighing about 140 pounds, I thought it best to install to gas assisted springs to aid in lifting and holding the lid up. It can be easily raised with just one finger. The lid needed some support in the corners, so I added some 3/16 stainless steel plate. Also to make it more attractive I had the plates laser cut with the words, MEDAL OF HONOR. I think you can tell how it was built more easily by looking at the pictures.
Dave
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/304911045.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/304911046.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/304911051.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/304911057.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/304911629.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/305874895.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/305874906.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/305874887.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/305079617.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/305079641.jpg
I sorry if this gets a little long, but I think you need to hear the whole story about this project.
First off this display case was built at the request of my very good friend and MOH recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams. He earned his medal on Iwo Jima on February 23rd
1945 and is one of five Marines from WWII still living today.
The case was made to hold a large tapestry 53” x 67” depicting Woody’s MOH. It was made by a prominent Italian lady living in West Virginia, At the time of making this tapestry she was almost blind. Several years earlier she made a tapestry for than CIA
Director George H Bush. She wanted to hand deliver it to Bush and would not take no for an answer. So she made the trip to Langley and handed it to Mr. Bush. She made another tapestry for the now deceased Pope. Again she would not take no for an answer and flew to the Vatican and handed at to the Pope. Woody’s tapestry is a one of a kind and was appraised at Sothby’s in New York for major dollars. He wanted it to be viewed by all so he going to donate it at this writing to The Pritzker Military Library in Chicago.
The case is made from red oak. The dimensions are 65 inches wide, 79inches long, 48 inches tall and weighs somewhere between 425 to 450 pounds. The glass alone weighs 90 pounds. Woody wanted the legs to collapse just in case it would sit low on the floor.
I was able to pivot the back legs down below the apron. The two angled supports detach
to let the legs come down. They are held in place with two dowels that “pin” them to the legs. They are pulled tight to the legs with a small piece of angle iron and a bolt. To release the legs to pivot, all that needs to be done is pull out a ½” pin. The two front legs are held with just one bolt and some angled support pieces. With the lid weighing about 140 pounds, I thought it best to install to gas assisted springs to aid in lifting and holding the lid up. It can be easily raised with just one finger. The lid needed some support in the corners, so I added some 3/16 stainless steel plate. Also to make it more attractive I had the plates laser cut with the words, MEDAL OF HONOR. I think you can tell how it was built more easily by looking at the pictures.
Dave
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/304911045.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/304911046.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/304911051.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/304911057.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/304911629.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/305874895.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/305874906.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/305874887.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/305079617.jpg
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL484/8647643/16030738/305079641.jpg