War Memorial

Sunday July 5th the Town of Mount Pleasant dedicated the new War memorial statue at the Mount Pleasant Waterfront Park. Two Medal of Honor recipients were in attendance as was other state and local dignitaries, including U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. The sculpture is of a woman sitting and holding a folded American flag. Raymond Kaskey was the designer and sculptur. he is internationally known for his World War II sculpturs in Washington, D.C.

The dedication ceremony was quite packed, suprisingly so. A U.S. Marine band played all the different divisions of the U.S. armed forces fight/theme songs. Many veterans were in attendance and the whole ceremony was quite moving. Since there was quite a crowd, it did not provide for the best photo opportunities. However, today i was able to catch the statue silouhetted against the Charleston harbor and skyline with a minimal pedestrians blocking the pictures. In this picture you can see the soothing double waterfall in the background of the seated lady. South Carolina Palmetto trees almost seem to make a gaurded, gated entrance.

This picture is a bit closer and provides a more detailed view of the war memorial.

This picture you can see the American flag folded and the combat helmet and rifle. The sun in the background behind the clouds almost seems to be providing a ray of hope for America.

This picture of the war memorial statue has the American Flag waving in the background. The details of the statue are shadowed.

The last picture is a magnificent one with the sculpture against a blue sky and the blue South Carolina State flag waving in the background. The ladies arm rests gently on top of the combat helmut, which is on top f an infantrymen's rifle.

Abouth the sculptor:Raymond Kaskey (born 1943) is an American sculptor. He was born in Pittsburgh. He studied architecture at Carnegie Mellon University and Yale University. Some of his other famous works:

Windy City Man, Chicago, Ill.
Owls, Chicago, Ill.
Sculptures on the Square, Charlotte, N.C.
Queen Charlotte, Charlotte, N.C.
Law Enforcement Memorial, D.C.
Hand of Noah, Silver Spring, Md.
Art Rooney statue at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Justice Delayed, Justice Denied--a statue of Blind Justice and decorative reliefs at United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria, Virginia
bronze components for the National World War II Memorial, Washington, D.C.

-Source Wikipedia