The National Memorial of Military Ascent | National Memorial

PROJECT NOTES

Tarlton served as construction manager installing 12 bronze life-size statues − each weighing more than 500 pounds – directly upon the face of the 100-foot limestone bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River in Grafton. Each statue depicts and honors members of the U.S. Army Provisional Ranger Group Second Battalion in their historic efforts to scale the precipice of Pointe du Hoc on the northwestern coast of Normandy, France, on D-Day, June 6, 1944. In a nod to the project’s authenticity, Tarlton also constructed a replica of a concrete German “pillbox” or bunker – a fortified stronghold used by German troops to maximize their line of sight − at the top of the Grafton bluffs.

Through ongoing fundraising efforts, the City of Grafton commissioned the bronze statues with Carolina Bronze Sculpture Inc., in Seagrove, North Carolina. “The installation involved intricate site and geological testing in preparation for hoisting and positioning each bronze statue that would be permanently placed upon the face of the limestone bluff,” said Mike Jones, Tarlton senior project manager. “Large mechanical lifts were utilized that enabled construction workers to embed stainless-steel anchors − each measuring two feet in length − directly into the face of the limestone cliff to provide ample support to each individual sculpture,” said Jones. “When the team was ready to lift the sculptures into their designated position, we used wire ropes to stabilize each sculpture as the crane carefully guided them into position. The ironworkers team safely and skillfully secured them in place.”