My vision for the artwork took shape when I read these words of Scripture:
"He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces" (Is 25:8)
"...and this mortal shall have put on immortality" (1Cor. 15:4)
At first glance, this artwork illustrates the last journey of one of America's finest sons, but there are elements of the sculpture that carry deep symbolism. Although the figure carrying the fallen soldier to Heaven is angelic, she is also the symbol of God's great love and mighty power—power that conquers even death.
In the flag from which the soldier rises, our glorious stars and stripes are amplified and enlarged, so that even if seen from the sky, our flag and what it stands for will not be overlooked. To represent our fifty states, I chose just a handful of stars: nine raised and two recessed, so there are nine and eleven–signifying that day in American history that we can never and should never forget—Sept. 11, 2001 (a day when we lost so much and yet made so mighty a commitment). Across the field of stars, are the words, "IN GOD WE TRUST," because it is God who is the center of the story—the beginning and the end of what brings us here today.
Many of us descend from those who fled persecution to come to America, where they could breathe free air, practice their faith without fear, and build a legacy of hope for their children and grandchildren. Others come from those who struggled and fought for that liberty on this very soil. We cannot live a day unaware of how precious, how life-saving is the gift of freedom that America offers. With this artwork, I bow to you who make that freedom possible.
And to those of you who have seen your loved ones off to war, not to return, I hope this sculpture is a reminder of whose arms they rest in now ... and that it whispers to you the same voice they heard saying, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Now enter into the joy of your Father's house!"
Size:
10.5 ft. high
8 ft. wide
4.5 ft. deep
Limited Edition: 6
Locations displayed: The 10 ft. bronze casting of “Going Home” was installed to honor Fallen Soldiers at Veterans Park, Sioux Falls, SD.
Purchase information: “Going Home” is also available in as a 24-inch bronze or a 4-foot bronze with a delivery time of 90 days. (Call for pricing
information 1-800-720-8574.)
