It’s only common sense if it is common to everyone… Whenever I am asked about the biggest problem facing our industry, I usually don’t hesitate in answering, “labor”. The labor problem is not unique to the Elberton granite industry, it is being dealt with by all areas of manufacturing across the country. Our labor problem is compounded by the fact that working with granite requires specific skills, that are not taught in most schools, you must learn them on the job. Now there is no shortage of potential employment candidates looking for work, because we do pay good wages and we tend to look the other way at issues that might be looked down upon in other industries. However, it is getting past the fact that the candidate generally has no granite related skills. Herein lies the problem, how to get those skills? Most employers in our industry have long relied on the fact that young employees started out working in the industry during the summer and then they would transition into full-time work once they got out of high school. There has been in the past, a steady stream of skilled granite workers that would come calling for work, but that stream has dried up long ago. So how do we address and fix this issue? It seems less and less that young people today want to work in any sort of manufacturing, let alone a difficult industry such as granite manufacturing, even though the wages are good! When I talk with the employers, I always hear the same thing, “I can’t find anyone with any common sense, they don’t even know how to read a tape measure”. Well, to that I say, “common sense is only common if everyone knows it”. It is sad to say, but schools don’t teach tape measures any more, and most of the kids who come looking for a job have never held one, and if they have, it most certainly does not have the same dynamics as a granite manufacturing plant! If we want skilled labor today, we are going to have to train them. Your company is going to have to develop a training program that teaches common sense. The younger generation of today has skills, but they are just not the skills you are looking for, so you will have to teach them. Understanding, that although they can’t read a tape measure, they can probably program a computer, and, they probably think you have no common sense because you can’t! The best training I ever received, was when I was in the Army. Everyone was required to shoot and be proficient with a weapon, even if you had never shot one before. Those drill sergeants didn’t discriminate between those of us who had never shot a weapon before and those who had. They didn’t tell us we didn’t have any common sense, they just assumed we all didn’t know how to shoot. So, what did they do? They taught us. They started at the beginning and showed us how to take the weapon apart and then re assemble it. They showed us how to sight it and hold it and then how to squeeze the trigger, and then they took us to the range and showed us how to fire it. And when basic training was over, the kids who had grown up in the city, having never shot a firearm, could shoot as well as a kid who had grown up in the country shooting rifles and hunting their entire life. You see, it’s all about the training, not the common sense. As we see a resurgence in manufacturing in this country and more and more jobs are being left vacant, now might be the perfect time to invest in a training program to fill those vacancies. Manufacture good employees just as you manufacture good products. OSHA Issues Final Rule on Silica Exposure Do you cut, saw, polish, grind, sandblast, etch or break stone in any way? If you answered “yes”, there’s a good chance this new rule affects your business. Crystalline silica is a common mineral found in the earth’s crust. Materials like sand, stone, concrete and mortar contain crystalline silica. It is also used to make products such as glass, pottery, ceramics, bricks and artificial stone. Respirable Crystalline Silica is made up of very small particles (at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand) that are created when stone is broken, cut, crushed, etc. As an employer, you are required to protect yourself and your employees from silica exposure. Over exposure to silica has the potential to lead to silicosis, an incurable lung disease. OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica standard for general industry and maritime requires employers to limit worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica and to take other steps to protect workers. New Rule Requirements: Assess employee exposures to silica if it may be at or above an action level of 25 µg/m3 (micrograms of silica per cubic meter of air), averaged over an 8-hour day; Protect workers from respirable crystalline silica exposures above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 µg/m3, averaged over an 8-hour day; Limit workers’ access to areas where they could be exposed above the PEL; Use dust controls to protect workers from silica exposures above the PEL; Provide respirators to workers when dust controls cannot limit exposures to the PEL; Use housekeeping methods that do not create airborne dust, if feasible; Establish and implement a written exposure control plan that identifies tasks that involve exposure and methods used to protect workers; Offer medical exams - including chest X-rays and lung function tests - every three years for workers exposed at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year; Train workers on work operations that result in silica exposure and ways to limit exposure; and Keep records of exposure measurements, objective data, and medical exams. General industry and maritime employers must comply with all requirements of the standard by June 23, 2018. Additional provisions to follow: Medical surveillance must be offered to employees who will be exposed at or above the action level for 30 or more days a year starting on June 23, 2020. A template for the “written exposure plan” requirement within this regulation will be available for EGA Member Firms and their respective retail customers on June 1st, 2018. Please contact Matthew Pruitt at mpruitt.ega@gmail.com for more information. Playing For A Purpose All proceeds of the Elberton Granite Association’s Annual Golf Tournament are used to benefit the renovation and upkeep of the Elberton Granite Museum. 2ND ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT ARROWHEAD POINTE GOLF COURSE ELBERTON, GA Announcing The 2018 Monument Retailers Course Learn About How Granite Goes From Quarry To Completion Along With: Setting Techniques & Tips • The EGA Certified Memorial Program • Advertising & Marketing • Wholesale Pricing • EGA Cemetery Planning Services • Computer Graphics & Design • Monument Accessories • State, Regional & National Monument Organizations and So Much More! Cost $275 Per Person Limit 2 people per company. Participants must be sponsored by one of our members. Lunch provided throughout the course. Visit www.egaonline.com for more information, or contact Matthew Pruitt at 706-283-2551 or mpruitt.ega@gmail.com Intertape Polymer Group Tours EGA Thursday, April 12, 2018 Intertape Polymer Group (IPG), makers of Anchor® stencil visited the Elberton Granite Association and several of its members. Matthew Pruitt of the EGA chauffeured the group from location to location explaining the processes along the way and how it relates to their product. The day began at the very beginning of the entire monument process.... the quarry. The group was shown how the quarrying process works and how the blocks are released from the earth. The day also consisted of a visit to the Elberton Granite Museum where they were able to view the history of how far the granite industry has come along with a stop at the infamous Georgia Guidestones. A trip to AQ Stones proved to be a great experience where the team was able to speak with Quinn Floyd, Owner of AQ Stones. Quinn was able to point out some key features to their stencil product and how vitally important it is that some things are done certain ways. New member Matthews Granite was another stop along the way where the team was able to see their product in use and discussed the positives and negatives of every feature. As some of them asked many questions, others feverishly jotted notes that they could take back with them. As the team at IPG have been recovering from the floods of last year, they have been working hard at implementing several improvements to their product. Monument Builders Of The Carolinas Visit Elberton On March 9th of 2018, members of the Monument Builders of the Carolinas traveled to Elberton, Georgia for a workshop tour. After visiting with some local companies, the tour made its way to the Elberton Granite Association where they loaded in EGA vans and took a tour of an active granite quarry owned by Eagle Granite Company. During their visit to the quarry they watched the smoke rise in the air as the quarry workers used a 4,000 degree flame to burn a channel in the granite wall. The group was told how the block being worked on would eventually be cut loose from the quarry and lifted up with the cranes that sat along the top edges. These blocks would then be loaded onto semi-trucks to be delivered to different plants for processing. This is where the blocks are cut and formed into the shapes and sizes of the monuments that are sold in their companies. Workshops such as this are a great way to keep up with new and upcoming methods in the industry. The group also spent some time visiting with Bicknell Supply where they discussed new products on the market and their benefit to the industry. The Elberton Granite Association would like to welcome our newest member, Matthews International Corporation! Matthews International is a global provider of memorialization solutions including granite and bronze memorials, caskets, cremation solutions and other products and services. Matthews products are in cemeteries, Halls of Fame, funeral homes, government buildings, businesses, parks and gardens around the world. They are committed to quality, craftsmanship and outstanding customer service. In 1850 a skilled engraver, John Matthews began his company with the goal of providing the highest quality of product and service. Word of his superior craftsmanship and service spread, his company flourished, and – by 1902 – Matthews became a corporation. 168 years later, Matthews International Corporation is still growing and thriving. Matthews International brings with them, two entities. Matthews Granite and Star Granite. Matthews International acquired Star Granite & Bronze, based in Elberton, Georgia earlier this year. Star Granite and Bronze, a family-owned business, is a well-respected long-term EGA member, manufacturer and distributor of granite and other memorialization products to cemeteries and other customers across the United States. Last year Star Granite and Bronze employed approximately 200 employees. Matthews and Star share established traditions of providing customers with the highest quality products and superior customer service. Future merging of these two companies will serve both entities with many benefits along with their customers. The Elberton Granite Association is proud to have Matthews International on-board as a member of our family. Their dedication to their work shows clearly in the monuments that they create. The Elberton Granite Association Welcomes NELSON GRANITE INC The Elberton Granite Association is proud to announce the membership of Nelson Granite, Inc. Nelson Granite has been in Elberton since 1993 and specializes in raw product in the form of slabs and blocks of granite. The company is run with only two employees. Frank Eaves works as the general manager and Cathy Bradford holds the position of office manager. Frank has been with Nelson Granite since 1998. Cathy came on board in 2002. The two have been working together ever since. Nelson Granite specializes in a variety of colors and sizes of granite in the form of blocks or slabs. Blocks can be purchased anywhere from 10,000 lbs. to 80,000 lbs. Granite blocks can be shipped to granite manufacturing facilities worldwide and transformed into quality columbariums, mausoleums, monuments built to last, stunning stone floors, external cladding and building blocks, and beautiful granite countertops. The uses are endless. But Nelson keeps most of their customers local to the Elberton area, providing quality granite to the manufacturers right here at home. Trucking companies are contracted to deliver granite to a few customers outside of the Elberton area. However, the customers here in Elberton have always counted on Frank Eaves to deliver their slabs to them with the small one ton truck owned by Nelson Granite. Blocks are loaded and delivered to local manufacturers in the Elberton area by block haulers. The Elberton Granite Association and the granite industries of Elberton are fortunate to have Nelson Granite as part of the ever-growing family. The Elberton Granite Association Welcomes Memorial Art To Their List Of Members The Elberton Granite Association is honored to welcome new member, Memorial Art. Memorial Art is owned and operated by Eddy Higginbotham of Elberton, Georgia. Eddy opened Memorial Art in 2015 and became an EGA member in 2017. Eddy is the son of former member, Eric Higginbotham, who owned Specialty Stone Services prior to his passing in 2014. Eddy grew up working in the quarry and granite manufacturing businesses with his father. After his father’s passing, Eddy found out that he had a talent for the digital art portion of the monument business. He decided to nurture that talent and after a lifetime of working on the actual stone, began designing the art to go on them. Eddy enjoys the design world and works to put 100% of himself into it. Memorial Art is a full service pre-cut stencil and artwork business. Their services range from custom designing sandblast art for monuments, custom patterns, drawings & 3D renderings to cutting the stencil and shipping it directly to the customer. Eddy began his company with just his computer, himself and a stencil cutter. He began with just a few customers and as time went on and word of mouth got around, his customer list grew along with his business. Eddy pushes himself to give the best quality possible above all. He stated that the extra steps taken on the small details make a big difference when it comes to making the stencil he cuts to be just what his customers need to get their work finished without problem or issue. Eddy hopes that as the business continues to grow and that he will be afforded the opportunity to hire additional employees to help keep up the workload. Memorial Art has worked on several monuments and parks already, some of which were featured in previous issues of the Graniteer. Shown below are photos of monuments that Memorial Art helped to design along with fellow Elberton Granite Association members. Memorial Art is located on Elbert Street in Elberton, Georgia and is always ready to serve the needs of the granite community to the best of its ability. Wilson Industrial Electric recently added a new American made CNC Vertical Column Milling Machine. “This is only one of three like it in the entire United States.” stated Melissa Black, Co-Owner of Wilson Industrial Electric. The new machine features a fixed table and traveling column for flexibility with large parts and fixturing. Three different jobs can be set up using the control panel or uploaded using an AutoCad program. Once the jobs are loaded and the material is set into place, the machine takes over and completes the work without further need of supervision. This machine will even change out its own tools for each step required to complete a job providing uninterrupted production work. The fixed table allows table loads of more than 10,000 lbs. of material. The Y travel is 40” and the X travel is 40” to 240” with the ability to set up 3 different work zones. Matt Wilson, Co-Owner of Wilson Industrial Electric commented, “This machine will take what has previously taken a week to do and allow us to complete it in as little as a day.” This machine will surely be an evolution in shop performance and production for the team at Wilson Industrial Electric! Left to Right is the team of machinists that will be responsible for the operation and day to day maintenance of this CNC milling machine. Adam Nash, Michael Mosley, Chris Wilson and Matt Wilson. Wilson Industrial Electric has worked endlessly creating a new continuous edge polisher named Hydra for a customer located in the northeast part of the country. Left to Right are the employees responsible for the creation of this machine: Cory Parham, Chris Wilson, Ross Anderson, Mike Sanders, Levi Combs, Matt Wilson & Lesley Green. The Hydra is a 13 head continuous line edge polisher for polishing edges of granite slabs from 3 inches to 12 inches thick and as short at 14 inches and up to 10 feet long with a maximum width of 10 feet. The heavy duty conveyor is capable of supporting multiple 16,000 lb. slabs of stone. Operation of the whole machine is possible utilizing one individual via 3 touchscreens mounted at various intervals along the machine. All processes are fully adjustable while the machine is in operation along with the ability to store up to 5 pre-programmed recipes for different types of stone with variable parameters including head pressure on the slab as well as stone travel speed. The machine has a fully adjustable automatic lubrication system and auto-shutdown safety systems implemented to protect the machine and the operator. To date, there are no other known machines with as high of capacity in operation nationwide. Southern Granite Company recently purchased and installed a new Pellegrini Robot Wire 2D Profile Saw on March 1st of this year. The machine uses a diamond wire to cut into granite or marble using a 4-axis numerical control system. The diamond wire is tensioned using an open circuit hydraulic system and can be adjusted so that both normal and spliced wires can be used. The intended design to be cut can be programmed on the machine control panel or on an external computer using DXF files created by Autocad programs. Monuments up to 7 tons can be cut using this powerful profile saw. It can cut pieces up to 5’ 10” height and 7’10” wide while maintaining the capacity of up to 14’ long. This kind of capability leaves few limits to the possibilities and potential. The CNC diamond wire profile saw can produce the most basic shapes in granite to the extremely complex of shapes and designs. Machine travel over the X and Y axes is by brushless drive motors, under the control of a computer which coordinates the machine movement to obtain the required profile. A similar system controls the two pairs of guide wheels. Aubrette Swiontek is originally from upstate New York and has lived in Florida since 2010. She recently moved to Englewood with her husband, Alex, and their two dogs. Aubrette earned her degree in Paralegal Studies from Tompkins Cortland Community College and previously worked in Tampa, FL as a legal assistant before joining Porcelains Unlimited. She handles new order intake and processing, along with deliveries and invoicing. Her favorite part of working for Porcelains Unlimited is the artistic aspect and helping customers create a custom product that exceeds their expectations. Porcelains Unlimited is offering a unique opportunity with augmented reality. Not only can one video be made, but a choice to choose different medias to view can be possible. Now memories can be brought to life using a slide show of images or videos, viewable through your smart phone. This new equipment comes as software integration with memorial pictures. Porcelains Unlimited has allowed augmented reality to be provided from a still image. A person can now hold their phone up to a memorial with one of our memorial pictures or identifier tags and initiate the video viewed through their smart phone. As the person uses the Zappar app, they hold their phone up to view through their camera and the video tribute of a slide show with music and/or voice can be activated to watch. Quality Monuments created this astounding hand carved monument for the wife of Mr. William “Bill” Jones from Williston, Florida. Quality Monuments used sandblasting to put the family name on the front of the stone, along with the lettering on front of the sub base and the two bevels. Sandblasting was also used to personalize the two vases that sit on both sides of the tire. The back of the monument is polished to a shine with sandblasted images of an old tire iron and tire hammer that Bill used in his work along with a package of Beechnut Chewing tobacco from his grandfather. Elberton’s own sculptor, Steve Mooney, carved the tire tread details on this monument. Mr. Mooney worked so diligently that it was stated that even getting close up and touching the stone, it has the look and texture of an actual rubber tire. This monument can be found in Orange Hill Cemetery in Williston, Florida. Kay Rhodes of Quality Monuments drove down to Florida to oversee the setting of this monument and to ensure it was exactly what was wanted for the Jones family. One might ask, “Why create a memorial that looks like a life-sized skidder tire?” Well Mr. Bill, as the residents around Williston, Florida would warmly refer to Bill, owned and operated a family business called Bill’s Tire Repair. Bill dedicated his life to his family and business. And the mark that he left in this world was one of love, honor and integrity. His family wanted to honor him in return. Bill began his career in the United States Army as a marksman. He was on leave from the Army and had an accident where a forklift overturned onto him. The doctors did not expect him to survive. It soon became obvious that Bill had other expectations for his life. The doctors then determined Bill would not walk. Again, that was not in Bill’s plans for his future either. He informed the doctors that he would most certainly walk out of that hospital. And so he did. Once Bill was home and living a civilian lifestyle again, he began working for a local tire company. His work was taking more and more of his time and he and his wife, Jeanette decided that if he was going to put in so many hours working then he should put those hours into their own company. They opened up their own tire repair business in August of 1985. It was difficult and they struggled with Bill being the only employee and Jeanette raising 3 young boys. Bill never gave up though, he was a dedicated and determined man. He kept working and he maintained a good moral backbone as a personal and professional rule. He knew that building a reputation of strong character and moral content was the only way he would succeed. Often times, Bill would take a kind heart and repair tires for customers that he knew could not afford to pay him simply because he was a kind and generous man. Bill’s hard work, indeed, paid off and his business and reputation grew. The business outgrew its location and they had to move just a few blocks away to make room for the growth. The community lost a dear soul when “Mr. Bill” passed but his beloved family picked up the business and kept it going in his honor. Two of Bill’s sons along with his wife work at Bill’s Tire Repair and keep the standards that Bill established alive. Quality Monuments worked selflessly to ensure that this monument was everything that their customer needed it to be. Family estate mausoleums in today’s culture offer a timeless tribute to lives well lived. Gil Bonnaffons of Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans, Louisiana enlisted the help of Eagle Granite Company, Inc. and CAD designer and architect, Mark Desoto to create this magnificent walk-in chapel style mausoleum. According to Gil Bonnaffons, “Mark Desoto was instrumental in coming up with the final design as well as overseeing all phases of the construction. When Gil was asked about working with Eagle Granite Company his response was “Their attention to detail is exemplary.” Eagle Granite Company has worked on several mausoleums for Mr. Bonnaffons in the past. They blend American granite with quality craftsmanship, as demonstrated in this amazing mausoleum. It was built with the capacity of 4 crypts and 8 niches. Eagle Granite used their most popular, Blue Ridge granite with a steeled finish throughout. Four Roman styled columns highlight the front porch along with the intricately carved design that outlines the doorway. There is a window centered on the back wall to illuminate the interior. The cross and laurel on the front gable are carved using a bas-relief style completing the design and giving it a prominent appearance. Pyramid Materials, Inc. created this impressive monument from a block of Chapel Rose granite. This memorial features so many beautiful touches. At the top you will see an apex top that transitions to the rest of the tablet with a scotia member. The tablet rests on a sub base featuring a rounded drop wash. The base follows the design with a straight drop wash. All pieces of this monument are polished allowing the sun to glisten from its flawless finish. This monument can be found in the Lincoln Heights Cemetery in Elberton, Georgia. Glass Art Imaging, Inc. created and produced this wonderful full color landscape image featuring a deer and motorcycle with snowcapped mountains in the background. Glass Art’s patented process melts the stone and fuses pigments into it, thus creating a strong, lasting bond. As with all of Glass Art Imaging’s projects, this beautiful example will not fade out or erode over time. The granite tablet was fabricated by Keystone Memorials, Inc. from Keystone Blue granite for Mathias Monuments & Memorials in Westminster, Maryland and can be found at Shiloh United Methodist Church in Hampstead, Maryland. Southern Mausoleums fabricated this two-person mausoleum for Choate Monument Company in Bryan, Texas. Keystone Blue granite was used to create the mausoleum while jet black was used to complete the two doors. The family name “Presnal” is carved in the gable top with raised letters. The mausoleum is all polished aside from the left and right sides of the base, which is rock pitched. It weighs a total of 15,000 lbs. and it can be found the Alexandar Cemetery in Bryan, Texas. Mausoleums provides a beautiful and lasting tribute to loved ones. This memorial features a heart shaped porcelain insert done by Porcelains Unlimited. The porcelain insert shows a full color photograph of Samantha Gentry that contrasts perfectly with the American Black granite that it rests in. This porcelain insert will shine bright and colorful for generation after generation. This memorial can be found in the Evergreen Cemetery in Woodville, Mississippi. Jenson Etching and Keystone Memorials, Inc. teamed up to create this beautiful memorial for the son of a local police officer in Elberton, Georgia. This monument was crafted in the shape of a special serp with chamfers and sent to Jenson Etching to have their team of artists laser etch the images seen onto the stone. A portrait of Detric blends seamlessly with an image of a CSX train. Detric lived by the railroad tracks and wanted to be a part of the train industry all his life. He was working on getting his certifications to operate trains. Along the bottom of the stone are laser etched images of things Detric loved. This monument is a wonderful tribute for family and loved ones to always remember a special young man. This memorial can be found at Maple Springs Baptist Church in Dewy Rose, Georgia. There are many ways to honor the life of a family. Eagle Granite Company has proven themselves quite capable with their production of this amazing custom built walk-in mausoleum. The classic style creates a dignified, yet traditional design. Made out of Blue Ridge granite, this mausoleum stands striking and magnificent. The mausoleum features impressive craftsmanship with smooth lines and Doric columns. Its stained glass window and the bronze front doors offer a flair of sophistication. The granite used for its creation is all steeled giving it a soft appealing finish that is pleasing to the eye. Inside this mausoleum rests nine crypts along with eight cremation niches. The cremation niches are tucked away in the corners of each side along the back wall while the nine crypts are stacked three tall on the left, right and back wall. Bronze rosettes serve as decorative handles outside the crypts. There is a matching bench to go along with this mausoleum. The bench is all steeled with harp legs and offers a place to sit in remembrance of loved ones. Along the front step, accenting the doorway of this beautiful resting place are two granite planters featuring an all steeled finish. This mausoleum can be found in the Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, Texas. The cemetery was established in 1871 as a 19th century romantic garden cemetery. Six generations later, it has grown and expanded. The impeccable blend of architecture and landscaping used here create the perfect environment to honor a beloved family. Jenson Etching custom etched this memorial for Sheriff Steve Thomas when his son Steven “Cruz” Thomas was tragically killed in the line of duty. The memorial features laser etched photographs of Cruz and his newborn baby daughter along with his family. Matthew 5:9 and Psalm 23, along with the different badges, shields and emblems that Cruz served his community under are laser etched along the memorial also. Much time and detail was put into the etching of this memorial. Jenson is a service company that specializes in custom laser and hand etching and they take great pride in their work. This laser etched memorial is a wonderful example of how a job well done can make such a huge difference to so many people. This memorial can be found at Bowers Memorial Gardens in Canon, Georgia directly underneath the American flag. When an officer of this caliber passes away, it rocks not only a family, be it blood or blue, it affects an entire community, state and nation. Jenson Etching did a wonderful job ensuring this life will never be forgotten. Childs & Childs Granite Company, Inc. designed and created this prominent family monument for a family in Cullman, Alabama. The monument can be found in Cullman City Cemetery. The stone is crafted from Caprice Blue granite and features an elegant exaggerated serp top design. The shape of the stone is mimicked by the frosted design set as the shape of the stone. The monument sits atop a base that features a polished top and rock pitched sides. This memorial features an insert done by Porcelains Unlimited. The insert mimics the flow of the flowing shape of the serp top granite stone offering a beautiful contrast to display the collage of portraits of young Travis Woods. This monument is located in Milford Baptist Church Cemetery in Natchez, Mississippi. Keystone Memorials, Inc. created this stunning marble cross for Pohl & King Monument Company in St. Louis, Missouri. The cross can be found in Resurrection Cemetery in Affton, Missouri. Marble offers a classy look to monuments, especially carved monuments with such intricate detail and design. The initials “IHS” was tooled into the recessed circle of this cross. The sub base, also made from Georgia marble tapers with recessed panels with bevels. Along the top there are different styled members to give it a layered appeal. The base is made from Medium Barre granite with a thermal surface and 3” dropwash. This beautiful monument was crafted by Keystone Memorials, Inc. for the owners of Campbell Monument in Provencal, Louisiana. William “Dody” Campbell is a Past President of the Southern Monument Builders and and Memorialist of the Year in 2014 for the Southern Monument Builders. This monument features a polished apex top that ends with a 1” x 1” polished check. The front and back face of this monument show the family name with rounded, raised headed letters in a double sunk panel. On the front side, the wedding rings and lettering were added using sandblasting techniques. The sub base is polished with a 1.5” polished scotia around the top that flows seamlessly to the base. The base continues the polished surface with a 3” polished margin before it ends a rock pitched edge offering a great contrast to the rest of the monument. The vases are all polished with straight tapered ends and placed on each side of the monument. This monument is located in Roberts Cemetery, Harmony Community in Louisiana. This monument was designed and created for and by Eagle Granite Company for an Eagle Granite employee, Emily Smith. Emily’s husband, Johnny Smith was a former law enforcement officer and had a true love for trains. Emily wanted their monument to express that love he had. She turned to fellow co-worker, draftsman Allen Seymour, to create the elaborate custom train scene that has been sandblasted into the back of the monument. The detail used in the sandblasted scene is amazing. This monument can be found in the cemetery of Coldwater United Methodist Church of Elberton. This spectacular flat monument was crafted by Star Granite & Bronze and sits in the heart of downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina just behind the flower clock. The beautiful granite map offers a touchstone for residents and visitors to connect with downtown and find a resting spot to sit and enjoy. Star Granite fabricated this monument for JM Smith whose goal is to improve the city and make more beautiful spaces. This unique monument offers so much to the people passing by and was created in such a unique manner. The complete diameter of the monument measures 12’ 1” and is comprised of two different types of granite. The outer ring is made of Jet Black granite that has been steeled with polished lettering. Sitting inside the black outline is Star Blue granite. The Star Blue granite slab is 11’ 2” wide in diameter and also has a steeled finish. The roadways and city names throughout the Star blue granite are polished showing a distinct contrast from the steeled finish. The compass was created using polished and steeled surfaces along with sandblasting. The Jet Black map of Spartanburg measures 7’ 1” wide and 9’ 2” tall. The map incorporates so many techniques used in the granite industry today all in one small area. The lakes and waterways were sandblasted and painted with blue litho while the roadways and city names are polished. Interstates and major roadways were sandblasted with a square groove and polished outline. Glass Art Imaging, Inc., yet again created a breathtaking piece of art. This colorful rendering of the last supper is a marvel to see. Glass Art Imaging can use any image and add it to your lasting memorial. The color pigments are melted into the stone creating a long-lasting color image for generations to enjoy. River Edge Granite Company created this monument for Winecoff Memorials in Statesville, North Carolina. Crafted from American Black granite, this impeccable monument stands as a reminder of those who gave their very life for their community. It stands 6 feet tall and is 4 feet wide. The fire emblem is etched and painted to fit into the contour of the carved circle at top. All sides of the monument are polished to a beautiful shine while the base has a polished top and rock pitched sides. This memorial can be found at the South Davidson Fire Department in Denton, North Carolina. Keystone Memorials, Inc. was chosen to create this sign for Campbell Monument Company in Provencal, Louisiana. The commemorative 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron sign is located on Barksdale Air Force Base. It was unveiled during the squadron’s centennial celebration on August 2, 2017, as seen in the image to the left. Keystone Blue granite was used in the fabrication of this monument. The front and back faces of the monument are steeled while the edges and top are rock pitched. Dowel holes were installed to allow the bronze logos and plaque to be attached. The base is steeled on the top with rock pitch on all four sides. Matthews Granite laser etched and sandblasted these cherished benches donated to the Morgan County High School in Madison, Georgia. The benches sit at the front entrance to the football field and baseball diamond with beautiful landscaping surrounding each one. The bench seats are polished absolute black granite on the top and steeled on the edges. The names of each student along with their jersey numbers were sandblasted into the top of each bench. Also sandblasted on each is the phrase “MORGAN COUNTY BULLDOG FOREVER”. Matthews Granite laser etched a photo of each student on the top of the polished seat. Michael’s bench also has an image of two wrestlers and his weight class. Sandblasting was also used in the lettering on the front edge of each seat for the phrase “IN MEMORY OF”. The pedestals of these benches are polished edges on the front and back face while the left and right sides are rock pitched. The school logo was frosted and painted on the front face of the pedestals. It is never easy when a member of a community passes. But when young lives are lost, it is difficult for their peers to move on. Elberton Granite Association is proud to have such caring and supportive members that these benches were donated to help ease that pain and to keep these young people’s memory living on. This breathtaking park is located in Gainesville, Florida. Majestic Granite Company created these awe-inspiring monuments that show a time line of eleven of the major wars waged since the birth of this nation. Majestic worked with O.T. Davis Monument Company and the Gainesville area volunteer Memorial Committee closely and together they ensured that the park was created to perfection. They did an outstanding job as this memorial park vividly depicts the history of United States warfare and brings home with a visual display the cost of each war unlike any other before. As you walk up the steps and embark on “The Walkway Through Time”, you are met with a Majestic Blue granite marker that explains that each 8 inch tile on the walkway represents one year and every brick stacked above each war memorial represents 1,000 American lives lost during that war. The monuments begin with the American Revolution and end with the Global War on Terror, including the Afghanistan War and Operation Enduring Freedom. The date the war began is sandblasted on the side of cap of each monument and the date it ended is sandblasted on the other side of the cap. On the front face of the cap of each monument, the name of the war is sandblasted. On the pedestal of each monument is a list of men and women of the Gainesville area that gave their lives in that war. The magnificent thing about these monuments is the variation in size. No monument is the same size as the other because its size signifies the time span that the war lasted. The tiles along the walkway and the length of the monument reflect the length of the war. The space between the monuments signify a time of relative peace for the United States. It is very humbling to look upon each monument and take note of the length of time the war lasted and compare it to the loss of lives in that time frame. Granite monuments at the flagpole end of the walkway reflect names of people, businesses and corporations that donated and support the park’s creation and upkeep. Along the grass line of the parking area, there are six large oversized bevels that have sandblasted the names of men and women from the University of Florida that sacrificed their lives in wars dating all the way back to World War I. An American Veterans Memorial designed by Greg Mathewson of Mathewson Monuments in New London, Wisconsin stands in downtown New London. King’s Monument Company, Inc. created the memorial. The monument was constructed of eight tablets using Dark African Impala 4-0 x 0-8 x 5-6 polished fronts, backs and ends, featuring a custom steeled ridge top. Each piece had to be carefully constructed to be butt- jointed together to make an almost seamless wall for the Veterans names to be displayed. There were originally 689 names engraved. Some of the names go back to the War of 1812, a lot were from the Civil War and some from the Spanish American War. The walls are sitting on four all polished Dark Georgia Blue granite bases measuring 8-3 x 1-2 x 1-0 jointed together to make 2 large bases. The Military Tribute piece displaying the 6 bronze emblems of the five service branches and POW and center podium are also from the same Dark African Impala. The Tribute Piece is 7-2 long and Podium stands 4-2 tall both all polished with a 9” bevel drop. Mathewson Monuments sat down with the Veterans Committee to discuss options for the site and design. After the river front site in the center of town was chosen, it was clear that the design needed to be one that added to the beautiful park setting allowing the river to be seen. With that in mind the split wall set on angles would be a perfect choice over a straight solid wall that would block the scenic view. The entire Committee and community are very pleased with final product, and were proud to honor those who have served our country. Veterans of New London, Wisconsin Honored with Memorial By King’s Monument Company On the ten year anniversary of the September 11th attack on our country, Dekalb County dedicated this moving memorial. The memorial is located in front of the Dekalb County Public Safety Complex at the end of West Exchange Place in Tucker, Georgia. The steel sculpture in the center is of a phoenix wing. It is symbolizing the phoenix rising out of the ashes behind a 160 lb piece of steel actually taken from one of the World Trade Center Towers. The phoenix is rising out of a large pentagon shaped base made of solid Georgia Gray granite. On each of the corners of the pentagon base is a 12” black tile etched with sentiments such as the fireman’s prayer and the police officer’s prayer along with facts about the day in our history that took so many lives. (Shown on page 35.) Such pride and dedication were put into this magnificent memorial to honor the 343 New York firefighters, 60 New York and Port Authority police officers and the more than 2,000 civilian victims of the terror attacks in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. Surrounding the center of the memorial are tall bevels with jet black plaques installed on tops of them. These plaques have etched on them the flight information for the four planes that were hijacked. This serves to ensure that the events of that day will carry forward throughout the coming days and years and hopefully encourage our upcoming generations to never let go of the resolve that it takes to keep moving forward and to keep strong. At the rear of the monument is a large single block of granite in a curved shape with the words “These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. George W. Bush” on the front and “We Shall Never Forget” along with 18” black tiles with the New York City fire and police units on back of the wall. Sitting atop the wall on the center is a 12” black circular tile with the silhouette of the pentagon and the towers surrounded by wings etched on it. Etched into the top are the names of companies that helped to make this touching monument a reality. This memorial is definitely one that is a must-see if ever in the greater Atlanta area. It leaves you with a sense of good old American pride and resolve. Two men were the driving force behind its creation. DeKalb firefighter Doug Harms (shown on right above) and retired Marine and sculptor Curtis James Miller (shown on left above). (L-R): Quinn Floyd, A.Q. Stone Design Company and Brad Myers, South Boston, VA L-R): Michael Hughes, Bicknell Supply Company; Gabriel Pelaggi of Dover, NJ and Leslie Turpin, Bicknell Supply Company (L-R): Rich Brooks, Pawcatuck, CT; Kelly Storm, Design Mart; Philip Costanzo, Norwich, CT; Jeri Burgage, Berlin, MD; Mike Fernandez, Design Mart (L-R): Randy Walker, Barre VT; George Arnold, Glass Art Imaging; Matt Walker, Barre VT; Tim Bronleewe, Glass Art Imaging; Evan Storrs, Miles Supply (L-R): George Oglesby, Keystone Memorials, Inc.; Ryan & Matt Worthington, Burleson, TX; Melissa Rodrigue, Gonzales, LA and Tom & Elaine Oglesby, Keystone Memorials, Inc. L-R): Bill Wenz, Breinigsville, PA; Kurt Hirons, Mt. Orab, OH; Jean King, King’s Monument Company; Ron Hirons, Mt. Orab, OH; Matthew, Katie & Marty King, King’s Monument Company; Kim & Paul Brickman Willoughby, OH; Kurt & Betty Luckemeyer, King’s Monument Company; Justin, Becky, Lisa & Randall Gallagher, St. Clairsville, OH Wayne Parker, Hamilton, VA; Stan Mills, L&M Granite Company and Jeff & Tammy Parker, Hamilton, VA Joe Cassara, Staten Island, NY; Jeff Poirier, Thomas Wilczko, Brady Turner and Evan Storrs, Miles Supply Robert Flood, JR., Staton Island, NY; Tanner Lewis, Porcelains Unlimited and John Burns, Jersey City, NJ Steve Skeba, Star Granite & Bronze; Carole Molloy, Westminster, MD; Cliff Harbeson, Baltimore, MD and Hillary Vaughn, Star Granite & Bronze Elberton Granite Association is proud to announce that Wilson Industrial Electric, an EGA member, was chose as winner of the “Best of StoneExpo-2018 Large Booth Design”. Amie Gilmore, CEM, Show Director, stated in the TISE press release “... Their diligent efforts improve the offerings our industries are able to provide the world and we are honored to award these efforts each year! Congratulations!” Wilson’s 8’ x 20’ display is a self-contained unit that can be hauled from show to show. Inside the display are visual aids and examples of the things Wilson Industrial Electric can offer along with 3 display televisions to show demonstration videos. Lightweight materials were used to make the transport process easier. The work that Wilson Industrial did not do themselves on this project was outsourced to local Elberton area companies. Wilson Industrial Electric is located on Willie Black Road in Elberton, Georgia. The company manufactures stone processing equipment for the granite industry. Wilson Industrial was started by Mr. Ray Wilson in 1982 and is now run by Mr. Wilson and his two children, Matt Wilson and Melissa Black. We, at EGA, are extremely proud of the hard work and dedication that Wilson Industrial Electric gives their work. When looking at the results of their hard work, it is apparent that they give everything they have to what they do. Dave Madonia; Jenifer Richinelli; Matt Wilson, Wilson Industrial Electric and Melissa Black, Wilson Industrial Electric (L-R): Matt Wilson, Wilson Industrial Electric; Paula Thomas, Pennsylvania Melissa Black, Wilson Industrial Electric; Phil Thomas, Pennsylvania Names EGA Member “Best of Large Booth Design” Eric Chaloux, Brian Melvin, Adam Martin, Jerry Carrier and Mark Crook, Miles Supply of Elberton (L-R): Duke Pointer, Hollis, NH and William Swift, Mt. Airy, NC (L-R): Adriano Soso, Italdiamant, USA, Inc. and Mark Cowart, Columbus, MS (L-R): Jared Lee, Shane Ward, Andy Lundberg, Jeremy Adams, Jeff Lackie, Jason Richardson, Annie Cline and Jeffrey Yeargin, Diamant Boart (L-R): Jeffrey Yeargin and Andy Lundberg, Diamant Boart; Denny Hush, Ozark, MO and Juan and Karrie Lulack, Plains, MT (L-R): Matt & Ryan Worthington, Arlington, TX, Melissa Rodrique, Gonzales, LA, George Oglesby, Keystone Memorials, Inc. (L-R): Leslie Turpin & Mike Beri, Bicknell Supply Company; Melissa Rodrique, Gonzales, LA and Bruce Bicknell, Bicknell Supply Company (L-R): Nick Kurz & Terry Irby, Greenville, TX, and Tanner Lewis, Porcelains Unlimited