This statue currently stands outside the Iraqi palace, Now home to the 4th Infantry division. It will eventually be shipped home And put in the memorial museum in Fort Hood , TX
The statue was created by an Iraqi artist named Kalat, who for years was forced by Saddam Hussein to make the many hundreds of bronze busts of Saddam that dotted Baghdad.
Kalat was so grateful for the Americans liberation of his country; He melted 3 of the heads of the fallen Saddam and made the statue as a memorial to the American soldiers and their fallen warriors.
Kalat worked on this memorial night and day for several months. To the left of the kneeling soldier is a small Iraqi girl giving the soldier comfort as he mourns the loss of his comrade in arms.
with thanks to Frances, text amended.
Something good and beautiful often comes from something bad. Beautiful statue.
ReplyDeletehttp://journals.aol.co.uk/jeanno43/JeannettesJottings/
What a beautiful way to show your appreceation. And what a talent this artists has! Phyllis
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful story - I bet he took great delight in melting Saddam's heads!
ReplyDeleteLisa
this was wonderful to read about; he took evil and made it into something beautiful!
ReplyDeletebetty
Very moving.Prayes for all the troops .A beautiful pce of work.Thankyou for sharing.Take Care God Bless Kath astoriasand http://journals.aol.co.uk/astoriasand/MYSIMPLERHYMES
ReplyDeleteHow incredibly beautiful!!! And they say they don't appreciate us. - Barbara
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool Guido, thanks for showing us this. I dad never heard of this before. Joni
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful Guido.
ReplyDeleteLove Sandra xx
This is awesome, very touching, thank you for sharing it with us, Guido.
ReplyDeleteDirk
Guido thankyou for sharing this wonderful sculpture, what an amazing peice of work and how moving ..love Jan xx
ReplyDeleteThe Iraqi artist has a strong and powerful sense of observation. He has been able to portray the ordinary soldier weighed down and bowed by contemplative grief. A lovely gentle all encompassing touch from the child speaks where words would loose their meaning.
ReplyDeleteHere too is a personal moment formed by portraying the dead soldiers empty boots, rifle and helmet.
I have never seen such a poignant statue. It is so full of realism and brings home to the watcher that this war, with its deaths, is real and not a distant news item.
Brilliant! Thanks for this Guido.
Jeanie
What a pity that this story isn't told to those who critizise our troops. A heart warming fact in these bleak war times, thank you to the lady for bringing this to our attention oxo
ReplyDeleteHey Guido,
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting this story on your blog. I am glad I sent it to you. Everyone's comments seem to appreciate the message it is trying to send.
Frances
i LOVE this story. Thank you for telling us!
ReplyDeletelisa
That is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLori