Moons Over Monuments

Oh the pressure! Our second MOM shoot should shine a light on a monument of historical importance.  I searched my reference books, the Google and the Wikipedia, looking for the perfect spot.  Then Seen had a suggestion – “What about the Korean Freedom Bell?”

He’s a genius.  Since our Moons photo shoots are intended as a type of expressive freedom, the Freedom Bell works on many levels (of odd.)

Non-traditional Moon Festival

In my memory, the Korean Freedom Bell and accompanying park are usually deserted.  My memory is faulty.

We discovered the actual name of the place is The Korean Bell of Friendship.  Also, on a Friday morning at 10:45 am that place is far from deserted.  At 10:45 am on a Friday, there are students, families, Park Rangers and local construction workers taking an early lunch.

We arrived at 10:30 am and had a few minutes to set up, and bare all, before that hubbub began.  All I saw was the two 20-something hippy chicks walking towards us from the parking lot, 50 yards away. I believed that we shared the park with only a few seagulls and a skittish, but healthy looking calico cat.

After the thumbs up from the camera man, I pulled down the jeans and let my freedom ring.  I used a Jedi mind trick on the hippy chicks, so they wouldn’t notice what I was doing.   Later, after we left the park, Seen pointed out that at 10:30 am he was pretty sure the workmen were having lunch, the Park Ranger was parked in the lot and that a couple was waiting in their SUV nearby; all of those folks might have seen the show for free.  Does this mean I created some new friends at the Bell of Friendship?

(More pix and historical info after the jump)

This is one big bell!  According to SanPedro.net, it weighs 17 tons, with a height of twelve feet and a diameter of 7-1/2 feet.  Standing next to this giant sculpture made me feel much better about the size of my behind. Engravings on the bell are gorgeous and represent the Korean symbols of liberty and peace.

The Korean Bell of Friendship was given to the city of San Pedro as a gift from Korea in 1976 on the occasion of the American Bi-Centenial.  It also served to honor veterans of the Korean War and as a representation of peace between Korea and the United States.  It is patterned after the Bronze Bell of King Songdok, which was cast in 771 A.D. and is still on view in South Korea today.

There are 3 things I absolutely love about this monument:

I told them what I was doing, they reacted well.

1. These friendly guys, who are at the head of the short path towards the bell. I hope they are as happy as they seem (I know they make me happy.)

2. This park is the perfect example of a key historical area that is mostly unknown by even local residents. It’s built near the Fort MacArthur Museum in San Pedro. (Which is named in honor of Lt. General Arthur MacArthur, Civil War Medal of Honor recipient and father of General Douglas MacArthur, who I originally thought it was named for.)

There is a large, circular concrete platform on the bluff overlooking the Pacific which has a type of zipper/railroad track on the outer edge.  It seems, though I have not found exact quotes sustaining this is the absolute location of cannons, that this platform held defensive guns from the late 1880s through WWII.  It is a perfect location for West Coast Defense as the view goes for dozens of miles both North and South on the coast. Apparently, the guns during The Big War could fire their 1400 lb. shells a distance of 27 miles, YIPES!  That’s way scarier than my bare hiney!

To the East of the parking lot for the Friendship Bell is the Angels Gate Park and Cultural Center.  It consists of really old Army barracks that have been lightly remodeled to offer arts and recreational programs to the community.  There is a sign that says “Hostel” on the barracks, so perhaps you could even spend the night where my Moon has shone.  From what I’ve read, they need and want to finance a LOT more changes and upgrades.

3. The pagoda that houses the Bell is gorgeous, absolutely friggin gorgeous.

Gorgeous Pagoda Roof

Kitty Cat Steps

Monuments, history and a bare bum!  Happily, many goals were achieved on this outing.

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