Photo: Gordon McAlpin, used by permission.
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA
N 39° 10.0522 / W 86° 32.0172
Copyright 1943, stone version.
Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: IN000117.
Copyright 1943, stone version.
Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: IN000117.
At Monroe County Courthouse, northeast corner of Walnut and 6th.
The inscription on the front of the pedestal reads:
MEMORIAL TO THE
ARMED FORCES OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
WORLD WAR II
The inscription on the back of the pedestal reads:
PRESENTED BY
FLUCK CUT STONE COMPANY
HARRY D. DONATO, CARVER
E. M. VIQUESNEY, SCULPTOR
ERECTED BY
BLOOMINGTON
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
MEMORIAL TO THE
ARMED FORCES OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
WORLD WAR II
The inscription on the back of the pedestal reads:
PRESENTED BY
FLUCK CUT STONE COMPANY
HARRY D. DONATO, CARVER
E. M. VIQUESNEY, SCULPTOR
ERECTED BY
BLOOMINGTON
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Dedicated May 30, 1944, this is the first "Spirit of the Fighting Yank" placed, and the only one made of stone. At the dedication, speeches were given by Lieutenant Gerry Kister, Colonel Shoemaker and Judge Regester. The statue was actually carved by Harry D. Donato, who used Viquesney's final design sketch as a guide. The piece is fully credited to Viquesney as the original sculptor. The daughter of Indiana sculptor Ivan Adams claims her father "worked on" this statue. If true, in what capacity Adams contributed is not known; his name doesn't appear anywhere on it.
This is possibly the last Viquesney public monument dedicated during the sculptor's lifetime. Later copies of this statue, dedicated in 1946 and onward, were handled by Viquesney's successor, Frederic L. Hollis of Gosport, Indiana.
Fall coloring makes the statue a popular photo op.
This is possibly the last Viquesney public monument dedicated during the sculptor's lifetime. Later copies of this statue, dedicated in 1946 and onward, were handled by Viquesney's successor, Frederic L. Hollis of Gosport, Indiana.
Fall coloring makes the statue a popular photo op.
Photo: Marilyn S. Wolf, Veedersburg, Indiana. Used by permission.
