Thanks to a Lilly Endowment grant of $7.6 million to Shining a Light on Indianapolis, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument project will forever change the way Hoosiers and guests of the city experience Monument Circle – The Crossroads of America.
The project headed up by Downtown Indy, Inc. and the Indiana War Memorials (IWM), under the leadership of Brigadier General J. Stewart Goodwin, USAF (Retired), replaces an underlit system with museum-quality lighting.
Apollo Dealer Dodd Technologies, Inc. was hired by Downtown Indy to orchestrate the cutting-edge lighting and sound system installment, which includes a selection of Apollo Design® Gobos.
“Monument Circle has been here for a very, very long time. It’s been upgraded and kept up, but it’s been dark,” shares Andy Meggenhofen, Dodd Technologies Producer. “We wrote a grant last year with Downtown Indy, and it was accepted. We were able to take a dark corner with a well-known monument and relight it. It makes a night and day difference – it comes alive.”
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is part of the 25 acres of parks and monuments in the IWM Plaza. According to the IWM, “no other city in the United States maintains as many acres dedicated to honoring veterans, and only Washington DC has more veterans’ monuments.”
The nightly Signature Salute presentation at 6:30 p.m. honors Hoosier veterans and active servicemen and servicewomen on two giant screens – the Circle Tower and the IPL buildings, located on either side of Hilbert Circle Theatre. An original film score, Indy Lights, composed by John Colby and performed by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, accompanies the Salute.
The Armed Forces Medley plays at 8 p.m., America the Beautiful at 9 p.m., and the Star-Spangled Banner at 10 p.m.
Apollo’s American Flag – Flat will be displayed on building fronts during the patriotic tributes. On days when the Colts, Pacers, or Fever play, Apollo Gobos Basketball, and Football will bounce around Monument Circle. Seasonal gobos will be in use at other times. For example, the world’s tallest Christmas tree lighting takes place the day after Thanksgiving; Snowfall 1 will gracefully cascade down the facades of the buildings on the Circle.
“Brigadier General Stewart Goodwin has been very, very happy. He’s the guardian of this memorial. It was quite the honor the other night to see him walk around the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. His mouth was open the entire time just looking at the detail,” states Andy. “Being Indiana born and living here all my life, it’s nice to do something local that will last for years. Most of our business is up for a week, and then it’s gone.”
Apollo Design® founders, Joel and Keersten Nichols, know Mark and Wanda Dodd, owners of Dodd Technologies, through business as well as their shared love for horses. “Wanda and I have ridden in horse clinics together,” Keersten explains. “I have been to their house for clinics, and a friend trained a horse Wanda bred.”
To learn more about Shining a Light on Indianapolis, go to visitindy.com/indianapolis-shining-a-light or view the public launch on youtube .
For details on Apollo Gobos and other products, visit your Apollo Dealer or contact sales@apollodesign.net.
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