Semper Vigilandum is a public art installation located in the City of Mountain View California. It is part of the Mountain View Fire Department Station #5 and is the work of artist Vadim Goretsky. Goretsky who lives in the city and frequents the adjacent park was no stranger to the Canadian Geese that often flock the baylands as part of their annual migration. When he was commissioned to create a sculpture for the then new fire station, he sought to link the station with the surrounding area. From the artist: "I've lived in Mountain View most of my life, and Shoreline is my favorite hiking place," the 43-year-old artist told me. "I wanted to create something that connected the park with the mission of the fire station. And I thought it would be fun to elevate the Canada goose to a symbol of service." The name of the statue is taken from a battle that occurred in 18 July 390 BC between the Romans and the Gauls. During the battle, the Gauls attempted to sneak past the Roman sentries and their dogs. They were successful, but the Sacred Geese of Juno, startled by their movement began honking and alerted the Romans to their presence. The inscription tells of fires etc and I'm wondering if that was a bit of artistic license since it adorns a Fire Station. That being said, Semper Vigilandum, is latin for 'Always Vigilant" which describes Firefighters to a tee. The bronze statue depicts three full size geese either taking off or in flight. The detail on the geese themselves is fantastic and you can almost hear the cacophony of honking coming from them. The statue itself blends in with the adjacent station and understating the historical connotations behind makes it a perfect choice for this spot. As with most of my public art reviews this is more of a stop than a destination. There is quite a bit to do in the immediate are from the various Bay Trails and Shoreline Lake, and numerous other public art installations in the area. However, there is little in the way of services in the immediate area. It is also is on a busy intersection so quiet comptemplation is not always in the cards. read more