The National Monument to the U.S. Constitution

Description of the Monument
The U.S. Constitution Monument (The Spirit of Freedom Monument and The Constitution Bicentennial Monument) was unveiled and dedicated by President Ronald Reagan at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution, September 17, 1987.

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Constructed of polychrome and patinated:[http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Cire+perdue]cire perdu cast silicon bronze and polished marble and granite, the monument stands 8'4" high and weighs, just under,7 tons. Each section of the monument symbolizes America's past 200 years. The detail of the bronze work is extraordinary. The cast silicon bronze Bald Eagle symbolizes American's personal freedoms, independence, courage, pride and dignity. The flag is attached to the "spear of Might" which is held in the right talon of the eagle along with the "arrows of protection" symbolizing the might and strength of the United States. The eagle's left talon holds an olive branch which is representative of American's goodwill to all mankind. The bronze tree roots on the rocage base of the bronze represent the roots of an old family tree that goes deep into the base of the monument core of marble and granite on which America is built and which will never erode. Just below the eagle is a circular plinth between the bronze of the eagle and the marble and granite pedestal where exact replicas of the signatures of the United States Constitution are circumscribed. The octagonal pedestal is constructed of white marble and red and blue granite with white marble stars arranged symbolize the American Flag.
History
Former Chief Justice of the United States, the late Warren E. Burger, Chairman of the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution, commissioned the sculpturing of the monument by noted Australian artist,: Brett Livingstone Strong.
The Bicentennial Commission initially planned for the Monument to travel across the country as part of the Bicentennial Celebrations of 1987 through 1991. Accompanying, what was then called the Constitution Bicentennial Monument, would be the set of five bronze plaques, original replicas of the four pages of the U.S. Constitution and the one page of the Bill of Rights . The commission intended to raise awareness about these most important American documents and make available the Plaque Sets for placement in public buildings.
Efforts to get the tour underway were unsuccessful until September 1989 when the Monument was introduced at the "Spirit of Freedom Country Music Festival" in The Plains, Virginia , near Washington, DC. The festival failed to achieve its goals and the tour ended with this one tour stop. The Constitution Bicentennial Monument was moved to Richmond, Virginia and placed on display at the corporate headquarters of Aarrow Special Events.
In December 1989, the Monument was transported across the country to Pasadena, CA for an appearance in the Rose Bowl Parade
File:Rose Bowl Parade 1990.jpg

on January 1, 1990. This remains only the second time in the parades history that an object not completely covered with plants or flowers was allowed into this famous and traditional annual event. The other time was the torch from the Statue of Liberty . Actor Will Smith was the the Spirit Foundation spokesperson on that New Years day float. . The Monument was rushed back across country to Richmond, Virginia where on January 13, 1990, it was the center piece for the Gubernatorial Inaugural Celebration of Douglas Wilder . It represented the freedoms of all Americans at this historic event, the swearing in of the first elected African American Governor in U.S. History.

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