Soldier's Battle Cross - McLoud, OK
Posted by: 
hamquilter
N 35° 26.098 W 097° 06.124
14S E 672278 N 3922935
This sculpture is part of a war memorial located on the west side of McLoud.
Waymark Code: WM15265
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 09/30/2021
Views: 1
Located in the triangle formed by the convergence of W. Oklahoma Street and W. Broadway, stands a war memorial. On front of the granite monuments, mounted atop a conical concrete base, is a bronze sculpture best known as the Soldier's Battle Cross.
This excerpt from Wikipedia describes the sculpture and its significance. "The Fallen Soldier Battle Cross, Battlefield Cross or Battle Cross is a symbolic replacement of a cross, or marker appropriate to an individual service-member's religion, on the battlefield or at the base camp for a soldier who has been killed. It is made up of the soldier's rifle stuck into the ground or into the soldier's boots, with helmet on top. Dog tags are sometimes placed on the rifle, and the boots of the dead soldier can be placed next to the rifle. The purpose is to show honor and respect for the dead at the battle site. The practice started during or prior to the American Civil War, as a means of identifying the bodies on the battleground before removal. Today, it is a means of showing respect for the dead amongst the still living members of the troop. It is commonly seen in the field or base camp after a battle, especially among American troops in Afghanistan or Iraq. While it is used less today as a means of identification, it still serves as a method of mourning among the living, as attending the funeral is not always possible for soldiers still in combat."
Beneath this sculpture, engraved in bronze is a plaque reading: "All gave some - Some gave all. Dedicated to the memory of all who proudly served and protected their country." The seals of the five branches of the military are engraved here.