Completed in 2012, the project was the result of collaboration between Madeleine Cotts of BCK Architects and Engineers and project manager David Marsland, whose wife was one the thirteen victims. The memorial offers a vision of healing meant to honor the memories of those lost in the attack. The tragedy shocked the region and indeed the country, given its national news coverage it also traumatized the local immigrant community, which had long benefited from the language classes, social events, and other activities arranged by the ACA to assist recent arrivals to the area. On that day, a local resident entered the building and, heavily armed, shot and killed thirteen people before turning the gun on himself. The ACA Memorial was commissioned by the city of Binghamton to honor the memories of those lost in a tragic shooting that took place at the American Civic Association Building in Binghamton on April 3, 2009. Location: Corner of East Clinton & Front Street, Binghamtonįunded by Donations of the Families of the Victimsĭonation from the Families and Friends of Victims Madeleine Cotts of BCK-IBI Group (Architect) and David Marsland (Project Manager) It is believed that a new time capsule was placed within the base of the sculpture including its previous contents from 1925, 1958, and objects from its unearthing in 1996. The time capsule, a copper box, showed signs of damage the items found within the capsule included newspapers from 1925, Spanish American War badges, and a letter from 1958 explaining that the time capsule had been found within the pedestal during the relocation and replaced. During the sculpture’s most recent relocation to Confluence Park in 1996, a time capsule was discovered within its pedestal. In 1958, the sculpture was moved six feet north and the circle diminished to accommodate the increase of traffic from highway construction the remaining circle was removed when the bridge was closed in 1969. It was initially part of a larger memorial plan, a Memorial Circle with a diameter of 260 feet at the intersection of Washington and Water Streets (later North Shore Drive) and purposely close to the World War Memorial Bridge of Broome County. Installed in 1924 and dedicated on July, 1925, during the annual parade of the United Spanish War Veterans Convention, Aitken’s sculpture has had an interesting post-installation history.
This local pride extended even to song: “Throw a kiss, in memory of the men we still miss,” was a rhyme popular with children of the 1930s and 1940s and intended to keep the soldier’s memory alive. Indeed, the artist was determined to make the Broome County sculpture unique in every way. According to Tom Cawley, writing for the Binghamton Press and Leader newspaper in 1967, residents of Brooklyn, New York, wanted a Skirmisher of their very own, but Aitken refused them. The lively character resembles closely the men who charged forward into battle, aiming to capture the passion and dedication of the turn-of-the-century American soldier.īinghamton residents were quite proud of the Skirmisher when he was he was dedicated in 1925, and aimed to make sure the sculpture with its unique stance remained unique to the city. Aitken’s Skirmisher balances on one leg atop a nine-foot cylindrical pedestal. This unusual formation aimed to counter the increasing accuracy use of rifles in military conflict. Skirmishers were men deployed in a military formation called the skirmish line, which required each soldier to charge into battle at a distance of eighteen to twenty feet from each other. Aitken, who was also a veteran of the Spanish American War, decided against the typical stationary soldier, which he felt to be lifeless, and instead gave the Skirmisher his distinctive dynamic stance.
Foster Disinger, a Binghamton based photographer and an officer of the Broome County Historical Society, enlisted the help of his friend Robert Aitken, an internationally recognized artist, for the project. Barber Camp III as a tribute to fellow soldiers. The Skirmisher by Robert Aitken depicts a typical infantryman of the Spanish-American War (1898). Collection of the City of Binghamton, Broome County Barber Camp III United Spanish War Veterans and Broome County Board of Supervisors, dedicated during the annual parade of the United Spanish War Veterans Convention July 14, 1925. (American, San Francisco, CA 1878-1949 New York, NY),