Stone Eagles Soar at WWII Memorial

WASHINGTON – Two bald eagles, carved in South Carolina stone, will be at a place of honor when the National World War II Memorial is dedicated here later this month.
The two bas-relief eagles, each 39” square, are the work of Walter Celley, master sculptor for Rock of Ages Corp. in Barre, Vt., from a design by Raymond Kaskey, primary designer of all statuary at the new memorial at the west end of the National Mall.
Each eagle, set at the 17th Street Ceremonial Entrance at the memorial, weighs approximately 3000 lbs, and is carved out of Kershaw Pink granite – the same stone used by Rock of Ages for the memorial’s Atlantic and Pacific Arches.
It’s the latest in a long line of notable work for Celley, who began in the stone trade with work at a granite quarry in 1957. His other carving works include the base of the Eisenhower monument at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. and a 3’-high full-round eagle for a civic memorial.
The National World War II Memorial will be formally dedicated with ceremonies on May 29.