ABC CHANNEL 6 NEWS REPORT
For more information about the GUARDIAN OF DEFENDERS Memorial please check out the following news article covering the unveiling:
ELEMENTS OF THE MEMORIAL
Battle Memorial (Battle Cross)
See section (1)
Primary Bronze Statue
See section (2)
Plaques on the Memorial base
Emblems of the Armed Forces and 9/11
Bronze Plaque(s) of the 21 Gun Salute Pillars
The Location
Bronze Combat Memorial
When entering the Memorial Plaza, created by pavers donated by EP Henry “Hero Scape”, The first Memorial Element encountered is:
(1) A Bronze Combat Memorial (aka, the Battle Cross) which is always set up in the Combat Zone for a Field Memorial Service so that all of those Killed in Action may be honored and remembered by their fellow Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen.
It is a very powerful emotional moment—one that no one who has served in battle will ever forget. The combat Memorial is comprised of the Kevlar (helmet), boots, inverted rifle and dog tags of the service member who was killed in action. We have provided several photos from our own experience in the “Gallery” section of the Web Page.
Primary Bronze Statue
(2) Behind and above the Combat Memorial, an Angel is lifting off into the sky carrying the Body of the service member.
The service member is naked but covered by the flowing robes of angel. He is naked for these reasons:
He represents all service members from all the branches of the service; not differenced by uniforms. They are all “American Defenders” (“American Defender” is what is written on the dog tags)
The American Defender has been stripped of the earthly trappings of this life; of everything that divides us; and the brutality of war! Thus, the American Defender is lifted, purified by God’s grace and love, into the eternal peace of heaven.
“Naked I came forth from my Mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.” Job 1:21