On Friday, November 11th, Benchmark attended the dedication ceremony for the new Veterans Tribute Tower at the Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego. The impressive tower stands 30 feet tall, has a digital carillon – an electronic bell set – that plays over 100 patriotic songs several times a day, with a 250-pound cast metal bell made of custom-cast bronze. Located on the highest point of the 313-acre cemetery, the tower is “a focal point for patriotic reflection and reverence for those that paid the ultimate price for our country,” said Dennis Schoville, president of the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation and a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot.

The $400,000 project was funded from various donations, including contributions big and small from local businesses across San Diego. In collaboration with Pat Caughey, landscape architect with Wimmer Yamada & Caughey, Benchmark provided landscaping elements to enhance the tower’s modern design. Led by foreman Lazaro Garcia, Jr. and Juan Miranda, his leadman on the Work Order crew, Benchmark installed 8-five gallon native type shrubs and decomposed granite.

The addition of the bell is the largest private gift to date for the 6-year-old veterans cemetery and provides a sense of peace and remembrance for those visiting. Our team was honored to be involved in this special endeavor that is sure to make a lasting impression on San Diego for years to come.