Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in 1987 and is managed by the Philadelphia Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Fund.

The names of 646 soldiers from Philadelphia who served in Vietnam are inscribed on the memorial’s stonework.

The Challenge

More than 25 years old, the memorial need to be cleaned and the stone impregnated to reduce staining. Additionally, many of the names were not readable.

The memorial’s caretakers informed Stuart Dean that when it rained, the names on the wall would disappear. Stuart Dean suggested highlighting the names with a pearlescent paint to enhance the names to properly pay tribute to the fallen heroes.

The Solution

Stuart Dean cleaned and impregnated the stonework. Associates also used a pearlescent paint to highlight the names of those killed in battle. Twenty-four bronze light covers and the dedication plaque were also refinished at the memorial.

The Benefits

Stuart Dean was able to restore the memorial under a very tight timeframe while other trades were performing work in the immediate area.

The names inscribed in the memorial were enhanced, making them easier to read and to properly pay tribute to those fallen.

Stuart Dean’s work blended seamlessly with the original look of the memorial.