STERLING HEIGHTS - A wall to honor the American worker. Isn't that a nice idea?

Freedom Hill Amphitheatre is providing a high-profile place for it, Roncelli, Inc. is providing project management and supervision during the construction process, a host of companies are donating services or products, and building trades union members are erecting it.

It's called the American Worker Monument Wall, and construction of the masonry structure has proceeded this year along the main walkway into Freedom Hill. It was the brainchild of Freedom Hill owner Tom Celani, who is friends with CEO Gary Roncelli of general contractor Roncelli Inc.

"Gary and I have talked about what shape we would be in without union workers," Celani said. "So we decided to build a tribute wall. And I thought this would be a perfect spot." About 150,000 people attend 7,200-seat Freedom Hill for concerts every year, and another 100,000 use the parkland that surrounds it.

A rough drawing of the masonry tribute wall turned into blueprints, which started to become reality when construction started last April. The materials, labor, and equipment that are provided are both paid and donated. The wall, measuring 60-feet wide by 28-feet tall, includes inscriptions of the names of local unions and supportive organizations and companies, as well as a central video screen that can play what is on stage, provide programmed messages, and offer unions the opportunity to highlight their work or advertise for apprentices.

Tribute walls and monuments usually honor military veterans, said Dennis Bishop, vice president of business development for Roncelli. "But I like this concept because it's about something else we can celebrate, the American worker. I have been working with American workers for the last 40 years, and I can say, they have done some tremendous things."

Firms/organizations donating services/products for the project include Field Measurements, Inc., Detroit Diamond Drilling, McCoig Materials LLC., Arriscraft, Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 2, Genco LLC (electrical) and Roncelli. "Building this has really been a team concept," said Bishop. He said it would take about 5,000 man-hours to build the wall, which will have a limestone veneer over block.

The monument was dedicated on Aug. 20.

“He (Celani) was the idea, the maker of this,” said Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, to the Macomb Daily. “When you say ‘blue collar,’ what that really means to me is pride. Somebody who is proud of what they do and what they make. They basically work with their hands. A lot of the trades, a lot of the construction and a lot of the labor groups really don’t often get enough recognition. Rightfully so, we give a lot of recognition to our troops overseas and even our police and fire officials. We don’t do that for the trades, the people who we depend on to build our buildings, build our homes, do a lot of things we take for granted.”

 
ERECTING THE AMERICAN Worker Monument Wall at Freedom Hill Amphitheatre in Sterling Heights are (l-r) Tony Zito, Josh Coleman, Robert Faggiano and foreman Bob McCloud of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 2. They’re employed by Leidal and Hart Mason Contractors.

THE FINISHED American Workers Monument Wall, complete with a central video screen and inscriptions of local unions and supportive organizations and companies. Photo: Davida Gerrity/R