1 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –Contractors working on the replacement for facility for Ireland Army Health Clinic hoist the final beam into place yesterday, after attendees placed their unit coins on the beam and signed it. This ceremony also recognized the 100th anniversary of Fort Knox's Medical Department Activity and the Army's 243 birthday.
Referred to as "topping out," the ritual has European origins but is part of American construction culture. The white beam is a symbol of the artisanship and labor; the tree, usually fir or evergreen, symbolizes the job went up without a loss of life. It is also a symbol of good luck for future occupants and the American flag dates back to 1919-shows loyalty to flag and country. (Photo Credit: rachael tolliverIRAHC PAO)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –Col. Kevin Bass, the Ireland Army Health Clinic commander and Command Sgt. Maj. Art Santos, the facility's command sergeant major, signed the 15 foot long beam at a topping off ceremony for Ireland Army health Clinic's replacement building. They attached the facility's Medical Department Activity coin, before workers moved the beam and welded it into its final place. The ceremony was held to recognize the final beam placed in the project, and honor the Fort Knox MEDDAC centennial. He addressed the staff who held a "viewing party" with a live video feed on the 4th floor outdoor patio for anyone who wanted to attend. Breakfast food was provided. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –Ben Grant, who works in IRAHC facilities, won the contest to be the IRAHC Centennial Representative. Since it is an active construction site there was limited room to safely accommodate people for the ceremony. So not all the clinic staff who wanted attend were able. The staff held a "viewing party" with a live video feed on the 4th floor outdoor patio for anyone who wanted to attend. Breakfast food was provided. (Photo Credit: Rachael TolliverIRAHC PAO)VIEW ORIGINAL5 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –Brig. Gen John Evans Jr., the commanding general for U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox; Maj. Gen. Todd McCaffrey, commanding general 1st Army Division East and Maj. Gen. Ray Royalty, commanding general of the 84th Training Command attached the U.S. flag to the final beam that was later attached to the building. The beam had already been signed, unit coins affixed and a Fort Knox centennial logo stamped on it. (Photo Credit: rachael tolliverIRAHC PAO)VIEW ORIGINAL6 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –Adding the beam--topping off (Photo Credit: rachael tolliverIRAHC PAO)VIEW ORIGINAL7 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –Staff from IRAHC watched the Topping off Ceremony via a live feed, and the view from the 4th floor patio, during the event. Since it was an active construction site there was limited room to safely accommodate people for the ceremony. The staff held a "viewing party" with a live video feed on the 4th floor outdoor patio for anyone who wanted to attend. Breakfast food was provided.
Ben Grant, who works in IRAHC facilities, won the contest to be the IRAHC Centennial Representative and attended the ceremony on behalf of the staff and he placed a special IRAHC tile on the beam. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)VIEW ORIGINAL8 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –Staff from IRAHC watched the Topping off Ceremony via a live feed, and the view from the 4th floor patio, during the event. Since it was an active construction site there was limited room to safely accommodate people for the ceremony. The staff held a "viewing party" with a live video feed on the 4th floor outdoor patio for anyone who wanted to attend. Breakfast food was provided.
Ben Grant, who works in IRAHC facilities, won the contest to be the IRAHC Centennial Representative and attended the ceremony on behalf of the staff and he placed a special IRAHC tile on the beam. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)VIEW ORIGINAL
Topping off ceremony
By Rachael Tolliver-IRAHC PAO
Ireland Army Health Clinic officials hosted a topping off ceremony June 14 at the future facility's construction site, recognizing the emplacement of the last beam in the new 101,373-square-foot, two-story, state-of-the-art facility.
The new facility is expected to be open by winter 2020, parking will be available all around the building with overflow parking across Brule Street, and patients will enter at the main entrance facing Wilson Road.
The building--which was topped off on the Army's birthday--will be out-fitted with new and modern medical equipment, will allow for improved access and quality of care and, ultimately, increase Soldier readiness, according to Col. Kevin Bass, the IRAHC and Fort Knox MEDDAC commander.
"This project represents our continued, steadfast commitment to caring for our nation's heroes and their families, and is also about the dedicated medical staff that delivers that care," he added. "In that vein I can't think of a better day, with this beautiful weather, to have this ceremony than on the Army's 243rd birthday."
A topping off, or sometimes called a topping out, has European origins but is also part of American construction and building culture. Originally structures were created out of timber and the last beam added was decorated in flags and adorned with a small tree. The tree symbolized the structure going up without a loss of life and was also a symbol of good luck for future occupants.
A modern topping off also includes an American flag--a tradition that goes back dates back to 1919 and started by U.S. steel ironworkers during the "American Plan Period," showing loyalty to flag and country. And the steel beam is usually painted white--one of the only beams--with the signatures of everyone in attendance added. The white beam symbolizes the skilled craftsmanship and labor to create the beam and construct a building.
The IRAHC final beam also included a coin from all the major commands on Fort Knox and those commanders' signatures; a Fort Knox centennial stencil--in in honor of the Army post's 100-year history and contributions to the United States, and a Medical Department Activity Centennial tile in recognition of Fort Knox MEDDAC's centennial.
"There is a quote that says, 'someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago," Bass said. "This new facility has been several years in the making and would not have been possible without the outstanding support from our Fort Knox senior leaders and mission partners, Col. Gant and her Louisville Corps of Engineer Team, Col. Brennan and his health facility planners, and Jim Mills and the Mortenson construction team. It is truly a team effort."
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