Elmwood Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Peace

Photographed By Sean Flynn, January 25, 2024

1. Peace Marker

Inscription. This 36 foot high, two and one half ton stainless steel sculpture was designed and constructed by "Jack F. Gron." The sword and shield are symbols of man's earliest conflicts. The slashes represent the ravages of battle, suggesting that they are damaged and cannot be used again. Therefore, it is a "monument to peace".

Erected 1980 by Elmwood Park Fourth of July Committee.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Military • Peace.

Location. 41° 55.591′ N, 87° 49.103′ W. Marker is in Elmwood Park, Illinois, in Cook County. Memorial is on Conti Parkway, 0.2 miles west of Grand Avenue. The marker is affixed to "Peace," a sculpture that sits in front of the Elmwood Park municipal building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11 Conti Parkway, Elmwood Park IL 60707, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); LCPL Nickolas A. Daniels Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Elmwood Park Honor Roll (within shouting distance of this marker); Patriots Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); 09.11.2001 (within shouting distance of this marker); Elmwood Park Peace Officer Memorial

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(approx. 0.4 miles away); The Great Assyrian and Babylonian Empires (approx. half a mile away); Assyrian American Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elmwood Park.

More about this marker. The marker on the statue lists more than 70 people who served on Elmwood Park's 4th of July committee, which developed this sculpture.

Regarding Peace. A contemporary news article about this sculpture and its development could not be found either online or in newspaper archives.

Jack F. Gron is an artist who was living in the Chicago area at the time and was responsible for at least one more sculpture still standing in the Chicago area, outside a now-shuttered bank in far south suburban Olympia Fields. Longtime 4th of July Committee chairman John Litrenta Sr. was also the public works director for the village of Elmwood Park. Elmer W. Conti was the village president for many years and also represented the area in the Illinois House of Representatives for more than 25 years.

"Peace" sculpture image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sean Flynn, January 26, 2024

2. "Peace" sculpture

The sculpture sits in front the Elmwood Park Municipal Building, alongside Conti Parkway. It was designed by Jack F. Gron and unveiled on July 4, 1980.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 25, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 56 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on January 25, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on January 26, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.