Today is the birthday of U.S. Navy legend Admiral John H. Towers, but the completion of a memorial to him in front of City Hall will have to be a belated gift.

Towers, who was born in Rome in 1885, is considered a pioneer in naval aviation, partly for his service in both World Wars and his stint from 1939-1942 as head of the Bureau of Aeronautics. He died in 1955 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

According to City Clerk Joe Smith, the slab has already been poured, the concrete has been colored and landscaping around the slab is complete. What’s still missing is the base on which a statue of Towers — which has been on display in the City Hall lobby for about two years — will ultimately reside.

“My understanding is they are waiting for the base of the monument and smaller pieces that go around the perimeter of the slab,” Smith said.

There is no estimated completion date for the memorial, which is privately funded, Smith added.

In preparation for the new addition, the city had to do a monument shuffle. The Spanish American War monument is now on the lawn of the Carnegie building next door, while the Robert Battey monument was moved to the Spanish American War Monument’s former spot to free up the space needed for the Towers project.