DESCRIPTION

It happened on February 3rd, 1991 at 3:30 am, 17 miles north of a base in the Indian Ocean. A B-52 flown by a young crew of 6 members was returning from a combat mission in Kuwait when the aircraft suffered a fatal mechanical malfunction. The pilot, co-pilot, and gunner survived. Navigator, radar, and electronic warfare officer – WSU alumnus Eric Hedeen - did not. Eric was the only fallen member whose body was recovered.

The aforementioned event outlines the premise of the memorial and lies at the center of every decision made in the conception of its design, the goal of which is to realize the client’s vision of honoring the three men who have fallen during their service, including WSU alumnus Eric Hedeen. The nature of the project carried an emotional component rooted in the weight of the memories associated with the event, and therefore the design approach required a deep level of sensitivity to the details of the event and a degree of empathy towards those involved. As such, each component of the memorial manifests as a formal response to an aspect of the Hulk 46 story. The shape of a B-52 is placed within the site to carve out three main pathways representing the wings and body of the plane and act as points of access into the memorial. The pathways descend below ground level to emulate the experience of submersion, leading towards a circular plaza shaped in homage to the emblem of the Hulk 46 Crew. Here, below ground, the viewer is submerged and encased within the walls of a reflecting pool, offering moments of refuge, remembrance, and contemplation. Three stone pillars rise in the plaza; two are placed within the walls of the pool and appear to rise from the water, while one is placed at the center of the plaza on dry ground, the intent behind this is to symbolize the fact the two of the three bodies still remain lost at sea. The use of stone in each of the pillars serves to cement the memories of the three men and seeks to represent their strength and heroism. Each element within the memorial is oriented and positioned to lead the eye towards a tall waving flag in the distance, further emphasizing the purpose of those who have fallen in service of their country.