Statue in Iraq

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I got this in an email today

<font color=navy>NOW THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS IS GREAT! and something every American should see. .......... Have > a great day. God bless!

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,Texas.

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 dottedBaghdad.

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.

Do you know why we don't hear about this in the news? Because it is heart warming and praise worthy. The media avoids it because it does not have the shock effect that a flashed breast or controversy of politics does. But we can do something about it. We can pass this along to as many people as we can in honor of all our brave military who is making a difference.

 

[Rajah]

Nice

 

[Dcat2u]

This statue is already here at Fort Hood, it was unveiled 22 April at 4th ID's Welcome Home Ceremony. It takes my breath away everytime I see it.

Darlene
Proud Wife of A 4ID Soldier!
We GOT HIM!!!

 

[monkeyboy]

very nice

 

[beattyfamily]

Wow, thanks so much for sharing that. I've never heard about it or seen it before but I'm not surprised.

You never hear of all the good that has gone on for the past 1 1/2 years unfortunately.

Thanks again!

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by Mary Jo
I got this in an email today

<font color=navy>NOW THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS IS GREAT! and something every American should see. .......... Have > a great day. God bless!

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,Texas.

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 dottedBaghdad.

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.

Do you know why we don't hear about this in the news? Because it is heart warming and praise worthy. The media avoids it because it does not have the shock effect that a flashed breast or controversy of politics does. But we can do something about it. We can pass this along to as many people as we can in honor of all our brave military who is making a difference.

Most of the email is true. However, some of it is not true. This is from Urban Legends.com

It is true that Iraqi artist Khalid Alussy (also referred to as "Kalat" in some news reports) fashioned the pair of bronze statues shown in the preceding photos. It is also true that the sculpture is made of bronze obtained by melting down statues of Saddam Hussein, and that it memorializes members of the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division slain in battle in Iraq,

It is not true, however, that the artist created the work because he is "grateful" to American soldiers. According to a March 9, 2004 article in the Wall Street Journal, Kalat/Khalid, who lost an uncle in a U.S. rocket attack, is "harshly critical" of the United States and its actions in Iraq. He only accepted the project, which was conceived by officers of the 4th Infantry Division, because he was handsomely paid.

"I made the statues of Saddam — even though I didn't want to — because I needed money for my family and to finish my education," he told the Journal. "And I decided to make statues for the Americans for the exact same reasons."

 

[Dcat2u]

If someone could assist me I could post the pics of the statue now that it is here at Fort Hood, it has the 4ID patch behind it. I am sorry I am not really computer smart, however I have figured out how to hook camera up to computer and email pics.

 

[MMouse]

While the statue is real, the email is a bit distorted.

It is true that Iraqi artist Khalid Alussy (also referred to as "Kalat" in some news reports) fashioned the pair of bronze statues shown in the preceding photos. It is also true that the sculpture is made of bronze obtained by melting down statues of Saddam Hussein, and that it memorializes members of the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division slain in battle in Iraq,

It is not true, however, that the artist created the work because he is "grateful" to American soldiers. According to a March 9, 2004 article in the Wall Street Journal, Kalat/Khalid, who lost an uncle in a U.S. rocket attack, is "harshly critical" of the United States and its actions in Iraq. He only accepted the project, which was conceived by officers of the 4th Infantry Division, because he was handsomely paid.

"I made the statues of Saddam — even though I didn't want to — because I needed money for my family and to finish my education," he told the Journal. "And I decided to make statues for the Americans for the exact same reasons."

The sculpture was moved from Tikrit, Iraq to its permanent home at Fort Hood, Texas in February 2004.


Elements of Iraq fill bronze tribute to fallen soldiers

Dcat2u: You can create an account at http://www.shutterfly.com
It's free and you can down load pics from your computer to the website. You can then post pictures here using the URL (http...)

 

[faithinkarma]

Do you know why we don't hear about this in the news? Because it is heart warming and praise worthy. The media avoids it because it does not have the shock effect that a flashed breast or controversy of politics does. But we can do something about it. We can pass this along to as many people as we can in honor of all our brave military who is making a difference.

Or perhaps we don't hear about it in the media because it is untrue.
Urban legends. You gotta love em.

 

[beattyfamily]

Whether it's true or not, it's still a beautiful statue!

 

[Eeyore1954]

The majority of what was in the original email IS true. And the sculpture is beautiful. It was just one part of the email that was misleading, making the artist appear to have a very favorable attitude toward the U.S.

I seem to recall some stories about this in the media. Occasionally, network news shows do a "feel good" piece and on rare occasions it might even be from Iraq.

 

[tandrjohn]

Originally posted by beattyfamily
Whether it's true or not, it's still a beautiful statue!

ITA.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by Dcat2u
This statue is already here at Fort Hood, it was unveiled 22 April at 4th ID's Welcome Home Ceremony. It takes my breath away everytime I see it.

Darlene
Proud Wife of A 4ID Soldier!
We GOT HIM!!!

Here Darlene. another picture and Fort Hood link.

And very nice, MJ, thanks for sharing.

http://www.hood.army.mil/4id/Iraqi/news_content/memstatue.asp

<img width=450 src=http://www.hood.army.mil/4id/Iraqi/news_images/memstatu/MEMSTATU1.jpg>