Memorial Walls Around the World: The CIA Memorial Wall
In the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia sits a wall. It's a simple white Vermont Marble wall, and on it is nothing but 102 carved stars — one for each of the CIA employees who have died in the line of duty. It is called the Memorial Wall.
The Memorial Wall can be seen in the Original Headquarters lobby, on the north wall. The majority of the stars represent members of the Special Activities Division.
According to the CIA, "Inclusion on the Memorial Wall is awarded posthumously to employees who lose their lives while serving their country in the field of intelligence. Death may occur in the foreign field or in the United States. Death must be of an inspirational or heroic character while in the performance of duty; or as the result of an act of terrorism while in the performance of duty; or as an act of premeditated violence targeted against an employee, motivated solely by that employee's Agency affiliation; or in the performance of duty while serving in areas of hostilities or other exceptionally hazardous conditions where the death is a direct result of such hostilities or hazards."
The number of stars on the Memorial Wall has increased from 70 in 1997 to 102 in 2010. Of those 102, only 62 entries include names. Above the carved stars reads the inscription: IN HONOR OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY. Just beneath the carved starts sits a black book, the Book of Honor, which feature the stars along with dates and names when possible. (Many of the agents' names remain secret, even in death.) The first star on the wall honors Douglas Mackiernan, who died in 1949 while overseas. The most recent stars added honor victims of the Camp Chapman Attack in Afghanistan in December of 2009.
Harold Vogel carved the first 31 stars and the inscription back in 1974 when the wall was first created. At first it was devised as a way to honor the CIA agents who died in Southeast Asia, though it wasn't long before it expanded to all of the CIA's casualties. Now, Tim Johnston does the carving of the stars. According to the CIA's web site, he "creates a star by first tracing the new star on the wall using a template. Each star measures 21/4 inches tall by 21/4 inches wide and half an inch deep; all the stars are six inches apart from each other, as are all the rows. Johnston uses both a pneumatic air hammer and a chisel to carve out the traced pattern. After he finishes carving the star, he cleans the dust and sprays the star black, which as the star ages, fades to gray."
When a new star is done, it's officially revealed at the CIA's annual Memorial Ceremony.
About the Author
At http://www.jeii.com you can find Donor Walls, Tree of Life, Donor Plaques and other ways to express your sincere appreciation, while encouraging future donations. Visit our blog at http://www.jeiiblog.com/
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