Captain Jeff Kuss USMC Memorial

Kline Swinney Associates

The tragic in-flight accident of Blue Angel #6 pilot Captain Jeff Kuss USMC on June 2, 2016, while on a training flight for the Great Tennessee Airshow left the town of Smyrna and the nation stunned. After a period of mourning and reflection, the community began suggesting that given the longstanding relationship between the community and the Blue Angels some show of remembrance be considered to mark this moment. Town officials and employees, community leaders, and citizens coalesced to mobilize an effort determining what would be viable. Using social media as a conduit for engaging with the community, ideas were provided as to what might be pursued. These ideas were brought before the committee for refinement, thus establishing a path forward.

A site location at Lee Victory Recreation Park was selected for the memorial. This location would make it easily accessible to the community and benefit the park in return. After a few meetings with the client to gather thoughts, a plan was established. It was conceived as a conceptual three-dimensional graphic. Conveyed in the design is a sense of movement, remembrance, honor, and the ethereal. Reinforced through the use of hardscape, landscape, and form, it attempts to create a memorable moment for the visitor and a unifying space for the community. The materials and form make subtle references to the nautical nature of both the USMC, Navy, and aviation influence. Given its proximity to the Smyrna/ Rutherford County Airport, height limitations were dictated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which prompted the memorial’s position both horizontally and vertically on-site. It is also intertwined with the parks walking path network encouraging pedestrian engagement with the memorial. Adjacent to the memorial there is an open green space used for play, public celebrations, and community events establishing the memorial as an anchoring element for everyone to enjoy. The design was further enhanced through the landscape design choices, which implemented a variety of plant material to create a space for both somber reflection and to celebrate the life of Captain Kuss.