Workers' Memorial Day and the Veterans' Glass City Skyway

Workers' Memorial Day is April 28. It was started by the Canadian Union of Public Employees in 1984. It was recognized by the United States in 1989. It recognizes workers who have died or sustained serious injuries or illness related to their work. Five people died here in Toledo during the construction of the Veterans' Glass City Skyway. Four workers from Ironworkers' Union Local 55 died on Feb 16, 2004 when a two million pound launching truss collapsed . Their names are Arden Clark II, Robert Lipinski Jr, Michael Moreau and Michael Phillips. The fifth worker, Andrew Burris died on April 19, 2007. He was a member of the Carpenters' Union Local 1138. The platform on which he was working detached from the bridge and he fell to his death.

Veterans' Glass City Skyway

This sculpture was built as a memorial to these men. It is called Tribute Memorial. It was designed by a Chicago Artist named Evan Lewis. It is 40 feet high and has kinetic elements at it's top. Centered underneath the sculpture is a plaque with the name of the sculpture and artist and the names of all of the workers who died creating the nearby bridge. According to the artist, the kinetic elements represent the constant effort of the workers who built the bridge. 

I had never visited this sculpture before and although it was a couple days later than Workers' Memorial day, it was an  appropriate time to reflect on the loss of life creating the bridge just a few years ago. I didn't know exactly where the park was just that it was somewhere on the east side near the bridge. I drove by it a couple of times without realizing it because I was looking on the river side of Front street. Then I saw it on the opposite side of the street from where I had been looking. Tributes to the dead have always been a use for art. It helps us to remember their lives and sometimes what they gave their lives to acheive.
For more information about this sculpture visit the Veterans' Glass City Skyway Tribute Memorial page on the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo website.