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By Stacie Crozier

Grand Rapids, Mich.—Grand Rapids' newest sculpture—a sky-blue 33-foot tall monument to community water fluoridation—swayed in a brisk late summer breeze as dentists, community leaders and health advocates gathered Sept. 14 for the dedication of "Steel Water."

Proud moment: Dr. Tom Harmon, president, West Michigan Dental Foundation; Dr. James Wieland, chair, Fluoride Commemorative Committee; Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell; artist Cyril Lixenberg; Rep. Vern Ehlers; and Dr. Amy DeYoung, president, West Michigan District Dental Society; cut the ribbon at the dedication of the Steel Water sculpture.

Overlooking the Grand River and adjacent to the brand new JW Marriott Hotel Grand Rapids, the soaring blue sculpture commemorates more than 60 years of fluoridated water in the city where it all began.

This is the second monument to fluoridation that Grand Rapids has dedicated. Steel Water was planned, coordinated and erected through the work of West Michigan District Dental Foundation Fluoride Commemorative Committee. The first, a marble monument that marked the 50th anniversary, was removed in 2005 to make room for the new hotel.

Dr. James Wieland headed the effort to replace the original monument with a work of fine art—resulting in the construction and installation of Steel Water last month.

"Steel Water will be enjoyed as a great piece of art in and of itself," said Dr. Wieland of Grand Rapids, "but the fact that it educates the public about the miracle of water fluoridation and how it has improved world health is very satisfying."

Dr. Wieland opened the brief outdoor dedication ceremony by telling the 200-plus in attendance, "You will hear a little bit about fluoride, but this is mostly a celebration. It is our goal to celebrate this wonderful community.

	Steel Water: Swaying in a brisk breeze, the 33-foot-tall sculpture represents Grand Rapids history as a settlement on the river and as the first community in the U.S. to purposely fluoridate its public water system to help prevent dental disease.

Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell accepted the sculpture—a gift to the city—with a special thanks to Cyril Lixenberg, the artist who created it.

"Mr. Lixenberg, you captured the spirit of Grand Rapids with Steel Water," said Mayor Heartwell. "Steel Water is a wonderfully modern piece of art, yet it has its roots in our ancient history and captures the very essence of who we are. This river that runs through the heart of our city gathers us, sustains us and has given us life from the earliest settlement."

Mr. Heartwell lauded the "bold move" by Grand Rapids citizens to initiate community water fluoridation.

"And now we've got this magnificent piece of art standing next to another magnificent piece of art [the new JW Marriott Hotel]."

The sculpture was crafted, assembled, painted and installed by Grand Rapids firms. Mr. Lixenberg expressed his excitement for the finished work of art.

"This is one of my biggest projects," he said. "One thing we were watching was to see if the layers would stand straight. They were lying horizontally in layers during construction, making them easier to weld, but we began to worry that the tops and bottoms might have bent with the extreme heat generated by the welding process. I was here when they installed it and I was looking to see if it was straight. It was."

U.S. Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.) told the crowd that he had 23 cavities at age 15, growing up in a non-fluoridated Minnesota town. He said that the estimated $8 billion spent on bottled water each year would be better spent in supporting the nation's water system infrastructure.

Dr. Raymond F. Gist, ADA 9th District trustee, thanked the citizens of Grand Rapids—and their parents—-for their approval and participation in the city's historic fluoridation trials that began in 1945. "Through their efforts fluoridation has been recognized as the single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay," said Dr. Gist. "But our work is not finished. I hope this magnificent sculpture dedicated today will stand as a visible reminder not only of the historic event that occurred in Grand Rapids, but inspire others to continue efforts to bring the benefits of fluoridation to the rest of the nation."

ADA guests: Dr. Raymond Gist, ADA 9th District trustee, and Dr. Lisa Howard, ADA National Fluoridation Advisory Committee chair, chat before the Steel Water dedication ceremony.

"Access to oral health is not just access to clinical services," said Sheila Semler, Ph.D., oral health director for the Michigan Department of Community Health. "Access to oral health is access to oral health education, prevention and restorative services. Access to oral health begins with prevention. Community water fluoridation is the most effective and efficient public health measure to prevent dental decay. Water fluoridation helps individuals across the lifespan, regardless of culture, ethnicity or socio-economic condition." Dr. Semler represented Gov. Jennifer Granholm at the ceremony.

Other honored guests and speakers at the dedication ceremony and luncheon included Dr. Amy De Young, president, WMDDS; Dr. Thomas Harmon president, WMDDF; Dr. Lisa Howard, chair, ADA National Fluoridation Advisory Committee; Dr. Steve Dater, MDA president; Drew Eason, MDA executive director; Henry Matthews, director of Galleries and Collections at Grand Valley State University; and Dr. Gene Bonofiglo, MDA past president and his grandson Tony.

Steel Water was commissioned, constructed and installed with donations from two dozen groups and individuals, including the ADA, the Michigan Dental Association, the West Michigan District Dental Society, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Michigan Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Grand Rapids Dental Hygienists' Society, the Kent County Dental Society, the Muskegon District Dental Society, Dr. Chase Klinesteker, Dr. Norm and Jan Palm, Dr. Amy DeYoung, Dr. Karen O'Rourke, Dr. Thomas Sommerdyke, the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation, the Downtown Development Authority, the JW Marriott Grand Rapids, the Frey Foundation, the Steelcase Foundation, the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, the Oldtown Riverfront Building, the James and Almeda Vander Waals Foundation, Howard and Verna De Haan, Been Garter LLP and Steven and Molly Parker.