Military/Veterans Coalition of Indiana to commission statue commemorating Colonel Harvey Weir Cook for display at IND
Exhibit to be located inside the departure-level entrance to the Weir Cook Memorial Terminal
INDIANAPOLIS – The Military/Veterans Coalition of Indiana, working with the Weir Cook Memorial Project, announced details today of a statue of Col. Harvey Weir Cook that will be placed on display at the center entrance to the Weir Cook Memorial Terminal. Col. Harvey Weir Cook was a Hoosier aviation hero. The memorial project commemorates his legacy and will be designed and built from Indiana resources.
The bronze statue will be seven feet tall and will stand atop an engraved pedestal made from Indiana limestone. Indiana artist Bill Wolfe, working in conjunction with Indianapolis-based foundry Sincerus, will produce the work, which is planned for installation early next year. Wolfe’s prior work includes the Carmel Veterans Memorial, the World War II Memorial in Webster, Mass., the Navy V-12 Memorial at Indiana State University, and the Korean War Memorial at Vigo County Courthouse in Terra Haute, Ind.
The Weir Cook Memorial Project, a 501(C)(3) organization, is funding the project through donations, which include the substantial support of Rolls-Royce North America, whose contributions have funded half of the project. Additional information is available at robert_nester@att.net.
“Hosting a statue of Col. Cook in one of the most prominent points of our airport will serve as a fitting reminder of the compelling connection this aviation pioneer has with the history of commercial and military flight in Indiana and with the airport whose terminal bears his name,” said Robert Duncan, deputy executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority.
Harvey Weir Cook was an American fighter ace in World War I and Distinguished Service Cross recipient. He was also a pioneer in civilian commercial aviation and a leading figure in the development of aviation. He was born Harvey Weir Cook in Wilkinson, Indiana. He graduated from Anderson High School and attended college at both DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, and Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania.
After World War I, Cook helped form the U.S. Army’s U.S. Air Mail Service and was one of the first transcontinental airmail pilots. In 1928, he became vice president and general manager of the Curtis Flying Service of Indiana, located at Stout Army Air Field in Indianapolis. Cook was a pioneer in bringing Indianapolis its first principal airport, Indianapolis Municipal Airport, which opened in Indianapolis in 1931. Later in Indianapolis, he was involved in the development of the first dive bombing sight for the United States Army.
“Rolls-Royce is proud to be associated with this very important effort to honor the state’s very own Col. Weir Cook. Rolls-Royce has a strong aviation and engineering partnership with Indiana. We are particularly pleased to be able to support our veterans and military. Many people don’t understand our rich aviation history in Indiana. We hope that visitors to the Weir Cook Memorial Terminal will become inspired by the pioneering spirit and innovation he left as his legacy,” said Phil Burkholder Executive Vice President of Engineering and Technology for Rolls-Royce Defense. “We applaud the Military/Veterans Coalition of Indiana and Indianapolis Airport Authority for making his memorial possible.”
About Military/Veterans Coalition of Indiana
The Military / Veterans Coalition of Indiana’s mission is to promote the needs of the military community of Indiana including active, National Guard, Reserve, retirees and their families. We will encourage the Indiana Government to enact legislation recognizing the honor brought to the state and nation by their service. This will be communicated through personal contact, the media and website to the government representatives of Indiana and other agencies as deemed necessary.
About Rolls-Royce North America
Rolls-Royce’s vision is to create better power for a changing world in aerospace, marine, energy and industrial power markets. The company employs over 4,600 people in Indianapolis, including over 1,800 engineers. Its operations in Indiana primarily support civil and defense aerospace markets with design, advanced manufacturing, assembly and test of gas turbine engines for aircraft customers around the world.
About the Indianapolis Airport Authority
The Indianapolis Airport Authority owns and operates Indiana’s largest airport system. In addition to the Indianapolis International Airport, its facilities include the Downtown Heliport, Eagle Creek Airpark, Hendricks County Airport, Indianapolis Regional Airport, and Metropolitan Airport. IND has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing it as a leader within its class, including best airport in North America in 2010, 2012, and 2013 in Airports Council International’s annual Airport Service Quality awards. IND is the first airport in the U.S. to win LEED® certification for an entire terminal campus, and the airport has won additional recognition for excellent customer service, concessions programs, and art and architecture.
IND generates an annual economic impact in Central Indiana of more than $4.5 billion, without relying on state or local taxes to fund its operations. About 10,000 people work at the airport each day. IND serves more than 7 million business and leisure travelers each year and averages 133 daily flights to 35 nonstop destinations. Home of the world's second-largest FedEx Express operation and the nation’s eighth-largest cargo facility, IND is committed to becoming the airport system of choice for both passenger and cargo service. For more information, visit IND’s Facebook page at Indianapolis International Airport and Twitter page at @INDairport.