Engraved bricks are becoming a staple of fundraising campaigns for schools, organizations, and parks. Whether it’s a simple name, a heartfelt message, or a clever inside joke, the options are limitless. Polar Engraving, a leading engraving company, has been at the forefront of helping these campaigns succeed by providing high-quality engraved bricks that serve as permanent tributes.
A memorial garden paved with engraved bricks is a beautiful way to honor veterans and pay tribute to the sacrifices they’ve made for our country.
1. Symbolism
As the foundation for human settlements, bricks have long held symbolic significance. In early civilizations, they were used to communicate messages, build temples, and create intricate patterns that were admired for their beauty. Today, engraved bricks serve as permanent tributes to loved ones and veterans in the form of memorial walkways and parks. They also serve as a lasting reminder of important events in our country’s history.
The emotional impact of these memorial spaces can be profound. A memorial garden or a brick walkway is a powerful way to honor a loved one, and it can comfort those left behind by reminding them that life goes on. The greenery and flowering plants provide a comforting reminder of those who have passed, while the engraved bricks offer heartfelt sentiment and a sense of community.
To maximize the effect of your memorial space, you should choose a thoughtful message that reflects the intended meaning of the bricks. Include personal details and meaningful references to connect with your audience, and be sure to stick to the character and line limit so that all inscriptions remain legible. Consider using symbols on your engraved bricks to add an additional layer of meaning, but only if they are relevant and will not compromise readability.
When choosing your message, consider how it will fit in with the overall design of your fundraising project. Engraved bricks can be arranged in a variety of ways to form unique designs that will make your memorial walkway stand out and resonate with your audience. If possible, use path lighting to highlight your engraved bricks and draw attention to this special area of your garden. It will also help your donors feel a sense of urgency and engagement in your fundraiser.
2. Memory
Memorial bricks have the ability to trigger an individual’s memory and can serve as a reminder of their past. Whether they are remembering a loved one who has passed away or honoring a veteran, the engraved names and messages on the bricks serve as a lasting reminder of someone special in their life.
This is why many organizations choose to incorporate memorial walkways in their gardens and parks as a way to honor veterans, military personnel or those who have served their country. These walkways typically display a simple inscription on the front of each brick and are placed in an array to create an artful design.
Often times, memorial walkways are dedicated to military service members and their families who have lost their lives fighting for our freedoms. They also serve as a way to raise funds for veterans organizations to help them fulfill their mission.
When creating a donor recognition garden, it is important to plan for seating areas where your donors can relax and enjoy their time in the garden. Incorporated seating areas can include a variety of benches and outdoor patio furniture. Adding water features to your garden is another great way to add an element of peace and tranquility. Waterfalls, ponds and fountains can bring the sound of water to your garden and add an elegant touch to your memorial walkway.
Providing an opportunity for people to commemorate special occasions in their lives such as birthdays or anniversaries is another way to enhance the impact of your memorial brick garden. Engraved bricks can be customized to fit a specific event or to honor a loved one. You can also include special dates such as graduations or birthdays on a brick.
3. Reverence
The words “reverence,” “honor,” and “homage” all mean deep respect and esteem. They can also describe our behavior toward a person, place, deity, or thing. People may be reverent toward their loved ones, or they might show reverence to their favorite sports team, TV star, or musical group. In religious contexts, people are often reverent toward their gods.
A memorial brick can be a way for a family or an individual to honor someone who has died. The bricks, which contain the names of the deceased, can be placed in a public space so that other people can visit the memorial and pay their respects.
In addition to being a beautiful and serene spot, memorial spaces can serve as educational tools. Engraved bricks can teach children and adults about the lives of those who have died, their significant contributions to society, and their values. In doing so, they can inspire and encourage others to live their lives with reverence.
Memorial bricks can also help communities feel more connected and supportive. For example, a memorial brick campaign can raise funds for an organization or project that is important to a community. This can create a sense of belonging among those who contribute to the fundraising effort, and it can inspire other people to join the campaign.
For example, the Airborne Museum of America’s Walkway to Victory memorial brick program pays tribute to veterans who served in Europe during World War II. It allows donors to leave a message that is meaningful and reflects their own experiences or those of their families. In doing so, they create a lasting legacy and demonstrate their support for the Airborne Museum and its mission.
4. Gratitude
A gratitude brick is a great way to remember someone special in your life. It’s also an opportunity to show appreciation for the person or organization that has helped you. Many studies have shown that people who regularly practice gratitude are happier, less depressed, sleep better, have stronger immune systems and more social ties, and achieve higher academically and professionally. The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley reports that gratitude is one of the core tenets of well being.
Gratitude can be an emotion, an idea or a feeling of appreciation or indebtedness. It can also be an action, such as saying “Thank you.” It can also be a trait, indicating that a person is generally thankful.
The scientific relationship between gratitude and well being is strong and growing. Grateful people are more likely to exercise regularly, seek medical help when needed and report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. In fact, some studies have found that grateful people are even physically healthier than non-grateful people, with lower blood pressure and heart rate variability and better quality of sleep.
Grateful people are also more likely to be helpful and sociable, with the potential to motivate others. For example, a study by the PAW Lab at UC Riverside found that high school students who wrote weekly gratitude letters made more than twice as many phone calls to invite friends to healthy activities as those in a control group who listed their daily activities.
Practicing gratitude can be as simple as keeping a daily journal and writing about things for which you’re grateful. A more complex and powerful approach is to write a letter of gratitude to someone for whom you’re indebted. Researchers who have studied this “gratitude visit” approach in children and adolescents report that it is associated with increased well being, even more so than journaling.
5. Reflection
Engraved bricks lining walkways, gardens and other community spaces offer a thoughtful way to remember special moments or honor deceased loved ones. They also serve as a lasting tribute to the community, reflecting its values and ideals in a permanent space. The bricks reflect a variety of emotions, from sadness to pride, making them a powerful tool for community building.
Engraving bricks are also a popular fundraising method, helping organizations meet their goals for projects that improve the community. Brick campaigns are a cost-effective way to raise funds, and the bricks themselves have a long life-cycle, providing an ongoing record of donations.
Whether they are donated to commemorate a loved one or to support an organization, memorial bricks are a beautiful, timeless reminder of the people who make the world a better place. The community can take inspiration from these enduring tributes and continue to build on the legacy of their neighbors and friends.
A brick that bears the name of a veteran serves as a reminder of those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Those who are still serving, as well as their families and loved ones, deserve our thanks and gratitude.
Design features throughout the Hall of Witness summon more directly the tragic themes of the Holocaust, including crisscrossed steel trappings that brace the hard brick walls and send a sense of impending doom.
