Pro Patria - Indianapolis, Indiana
Posted by: gparkes
N 39° 46.383 W 086° 09.416
16S E 572202 N 4402908
Standing on the steps of the Indiana War Memorial, this statue embodies the American soldier.
Waymark Code: WM771J
Location: Indiana, United States
Date Posted: 09/11/2009
Views: 6
The statue is of a young man draped in an American flag reaching heavenward. Hering stated "I have attempted to embody in this memorial, the spirit rather than material concept of a soldier-- to give the figure an expression of all there is in humanity of aspiration, valor, renunciation and the perpetuation of the memory of the patriot fighting for the right. I include peace also, for the left hand raised in exultation also may snatch the olive branch." The statue is 24' high and weighs approximately seven tons. It was the largest sculptured bronze casting ever made in America at that time.
Quoted from the Indiana War Memorial website.
You cannot help but notice this statue when looking at the south side of the Indiana War Memorial. It is striking to see this figure, arms outstreached with an almost relieved expression on his face. Reading the artist intent (above), it would seem the only miss for me is to see the American Flag over his shoulders. The thing missing from the bronze sculpture is the red, white and blue of our flag. Otherwise, the embodied spirit can almost be felt by the mere sight of the sculpture.