Phoenix
Roger Burnham - Lt. Frank Luke Jr. Memorial
1700 W Washington St, Phoenix (Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza)
The first memorial to be installed at the Arizona State Capitol, at what would later be called Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, is this beautiful sculpture entitled Lt. Frank Luke Jr. Memorial. Luke was a native Arizonan and the oldest of nine children. He fought in World War I as a fighter pilot where he shot down four enemy planes and fourteen observation balloons before he was killed in combat, in France, in 1918. Luke was 21 years old. The story of his death is that he was shot down, survived the crash, and then killed several German soldiers with his pistols before he was finally killed. He was the first aviator to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. This link will give you a taste for this brave, smart, freedom-loving, young man.
From this sad and heroic story, through the work of a group then called The Gold Star Mothers (now American Gold Star Mothers), has come this wonderful memorial. Massachusetts born sculptor, Roger Burnham, spent most of his career in California. He also taught at Otis Art Institute. Burnham received the commission for this work and he has honored Luke well, giving him a posture of confidence, shown in his Air Force uniform, and with a forward gaze that indicates a young man with direction. Luke’s jacket and bent right knee give Burnham a chance to show off a little, creating great detail and weight in the jacket and a nice stretch of Luke’s trousers at the bend of the knee.
If Luke’s name sounds familiar it may be because Luke Air Force Base, in Glendale, was named after him.
You will find the Lt. Frank Luke Jr. Memorial by the front entrance of the Capitol, just west of 17th Ave. Parking is available east of 17th Ave between Jefferson and Washington. Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza is filled with over forty monuments and memorials, so make a day of your visit. You will find it to be enjoyable, educational and moving.
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