Columbian Park in Lafayette in Tippecanoe County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Iraq War Memorial

— " Most Precious Offering " —

Photographed by Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010

1. Full View - - Iraq War Memorial Marker

Inscription.
SPC Luke P. Frist 209th Quartermaster Co., Lafayette, IN United States Army Reserve January 5, 2004, Ar Ramadi, Iraq

Marine Cpl. Bryan Scott Wilson 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Div. 1st Marine Exp. Force Dec. 1, 2004, Al Anbar Province, Iraq

Army Spc. Matthew C. Frantz 1st Special Troops Battalion 1st Brigade Combat Team 101st Airborne Division MI January 20, 2006, Huwijah, Iraq

Army Cpl. Nathaniel S. Baughman 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment 3rd Brigade Combat Team 101st Airborne Division July 17, 2006, Bayji, Iraq

Army Cpl. Cody Putman 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) 25th Infantry Division, 40th Cavalry Regiment April 12, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq

Sgt. Andrew R. Weiss 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division May 3, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq

"Most Precious Offering" Created by artist, Saundra Whiddon, to honor the courage and sacrifice of all parents who from infancy held and nurtured the soldier and now, for the sake of other, must let him go. In the final goodbye, the parents exhibit purpose and unspeakable selflessness.

The

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infant is portrayed as vulnerable and yet secure in the hands of his parents. He is swaddled in the American Flag. The hand of his father lifts him up with great determination and purpose; using his strength to hold the head of the infant securely for the entire journey. The mother’s hand, by contrast, forms a nurturing pose as she reluctantly and slowly lifts her child toward the heavens. The infant is simultaneously emitting a cry of victory and of separation with which the artist hopes to show the ambivalence even the bravest soldier feels when called to war. He clutches the American flag against his chest with one hand clinging to those things that are familiar. With the other hand, he raises his flag toward the Creator showing the courage that soldiers exhibit when they dare to reach higher than others!

Erected 2006.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, 1st Iraq & Desert Storm • War, 2nd Iraq.

Location. 40° 24.908′ N, 86° 52.261′ W. Memorial is in Lafayette, Indiana, in Tippecanoe County. It is in Columbian Park. It can be reached from the intersection

First Tier - Left Plaque - - " SPC Luke P. Frist " image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010

2. First Tier - Left Plaque - - " SPC Luke P. Frist "

(See above for text.)

of Scott Street and Sherman Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located on the South (left - upper level) end of the "Big Four" Train Depot in Lafayette, Indiana. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 1915 Scott St, Lafayette IN 47904, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Central Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Purple Heart Memorial (here, next to this marker); Tippecanoe County War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Tippecanoe County War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Perrin Historic District (approx. 0.7 miles away); Helen M. Gougar (approx. 0.8 miles away); Ninth Street Hill (approx. 0.8

First Tier - Right Plaque - - " Marine Cpl. Bryan Scott Wilson " image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010

3. First Tier - Right Plaque - - " Marine Cpl. Bryan Scott Wilson "

(See above for text.)

miles away); Highland Park Neighborhood (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Ellsworth Historic District (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lafayette.

Second Tier - Left Plaque - - " Army Spc. Matthew C. Frantz " image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010

4. Second Tier - Left Plaque - - " Army Spc. Matthew C. Frantz "

(See above for text.)

Second Tier - Right Plaque - - " Army Cpl. Nathaniel S. Baughman " image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010

5. Second Tier - Right Plaque - - " Army Cpl. Nathaniel S. Baughman "

(See above for text.)

Third Tier - Left Plaque - - " Army Cpl. Cody Putman " image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010

6. Third Tier - Left Plaque - - " Army Cpl. Cody Putman "

(See above for text.)

Third Tier - Right Plaque - - " Sgt. Andrew R. Weiss " image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010

7. Third Tier - Right Plaque - - " Sgt. Andrew R. Weiss "

(See above for text.)

Wide View - - Iraq War Memorial Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010

8. Wide View - - Iraq War Memorial Marker

The Iraqi War Memorial is to the right in this photo.

Artist Plaque - - " Most Precious Offering " - by: Saundra Whiddon image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010

9. Artist Plaque - - " Most Precious Offering " - by: Saundra Whiddon

(See above for text.)

((More Read-able)) Artist Plaque - - " Most Precious Offering " - by: Saundra Whiddon image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010

10. ((More Read-able)) Artist Plaque - - " Most Precious Offering " - by: Saundra Whiddon

Sun glare - made it difficult to photograph this plaque so it can be easly read. (See above for text.)

Statue - - " Most Precious Offering " - by: Saundra Whiddon image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010

11. Statue - - " Most Precious Offering " - by: Saundra Whiddon

From Above - Limited View - - " Most Precious Offering " Baby image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Courtesy:: Carly C. Kindig, August 22, 2010

12. From Above - Limited View - - " Most Precious Offering " Baby

Iraq War Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Trevor L Whited, August 10, 2024

13. Iraq War Memorial

New location in Columbian Park

Credits. This page was last revised on September 20, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. This page has been viewed 2,009 times since then and 28 times this year. Last updated on September 1, 2024, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on August 27, 2010, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. 13. submitted on September 1, 2024, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.