The Price of Freedom Veterans Memorial

The Price of Freedom Veterans Memorial. . , The Statue , The 6-foot tall bronze statue perched atop the 5½ foot high concrete pedestal is entitled, “The Price of Freedom.” It was sculpted by L’Deane Trueblood of St. George, Utah and cast by Metal Arts Foundry of Lehi, Utah. It portrays the lead scout of a reconnaissance unit, on alert, standing watch over a wounded buddy who has just paid one of the prices of freedom. The uniforms, equipment, and weapons typify those of the Vietnam War: steel helmet, helmet liner, jungle fatigues, jungle boots, load bearing equipment, ruck sack, pistol belt with ammunition pouches and canteen, bandolier of ammunition, .45 caliber pistol in holster, and 5.56mm M16 rifle. , The Artist , L’Deane Trueblood was born in Oklahoma, a descendant of Scotch-Irish homesteaders. She holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and a master’s degree in early education. For 31 years she was married to a career Air Force Officer. They had three children and served on military posts in several states and foreign countries before retiring and settling in St. George, Utah. , When her children were young, L’Deane interrupted her art career for a few years to pioneer a Montessori School in Southern Utah, an experience that helped to establish her as one of the foremost sculptors of children in the country. Now 77 years old, widowed, and the owner of Trueblood Studios in St. George, her name is listed among the “100 Most Honored Artists of Utah” and in the publication, “America’s 50 Most Successful Women of 2003.” , About her statue “The Price of Freedom,” displayed here, L’Deane says, “it expresses my desire to honor the pride and strength of our military that serves and protects us and also expresses the sacrifice, pain, danger and physical endurance that is the price they pay for our freedoms.”, Enjoy Your Visit , Veterans Memorial Committee , Town of Havana, FL , December 2005. , America’s Wars , The Price of Freedom Veterans memorial is not about war. It is a tribute to our Armed Forces and to our military veterans. Whether they served in wartime or in peacetime, their service is valued as it enables us to live in peace and freedom and to pursue the American dream in a democratic society., The bronze plaques display data about the dates, number of service members, and number of battle deaths for each of America’s Wars. This data was based on information from the Department of Defense and was considered accurate in 2004. , When viewing this memorial each of us will come to it with different perspectives, but at the end we believe most will have concluded that freedom is not free but is work defending, to preserve our values, our way of life, and even our existence as a nation. , One of our primary goals is to spark the curiosity of our young people. We encourage class visits and follow-up projects based on what the students learn here. , American Revolution , Dates: 1775-1783 , Service Members: 184,000 to 250,000 , Battle Deaths: 4,435, “These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.” , Richard Henry Lee, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” , Nathan Hale, his last words, September 22, 1776, War of 18 12 , Dates: 1812-1815 , Service Members: 286,730 , Battle Deaths: 2,260, “By the eternal, they shall not sleep on our soil.” , Andrew Jackson, Indian Wars , Dates: About 1817 to 1898 , Service Members: 106,000 , U.S. Battle Deaths: 1,000 , American Indian Deaths: Not available, “The U.S. Cavalry , wherever it rode, that place became the United States of America.” , John Ford, Film Producer, “I will fight no more, forever.” , Chief Joseph, Nez Perces Tribe, Mexican War , Dates: 1846-1848 , Service Members: 78,178 , Battle Deaths: 1,733, “We are called upon to vindicate the honor of our country.” , President James Polk, “We had to throw away the scabbard and to advance with the naked blade in hand.” , General Winfield Scott , Civil War , Dates: 1861-1865 , Union Service Members: 2,213,363 , Union Battle Deaths: 140,414, “…we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.” , President Abraham Lincoln, War Between the States , Dates: 1861-1865 , Confederate Service Members: 600,000 to 1,500,000 , Confederate Battle Deaths: 74,524 plus, “They died in the consciousness of duty faithfully performed.” , General Robert E. Lee , Spanish-American War , Dates: 1898 , Service Members: 306,760 , Battle Deaths: 385, “No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his well-being, to risk his body, to risk his life, in great cause.” , Theodore Roosevelt, World War I , Dates: 1917-1918 , Service Members: 4,734,991 , Battle Deaths: 53,402, “The world must be made safe for democracy.” , President Woodrow Wilson, 2 April 1917, “Lafayette, we are here.” , General John J. Pershing, Commander American Expeditionary Forces, World War II , Dates: 1941-1945 , Service Members: 14,903,213 , Battle Deaths: 291,557, “The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.” , General Dwight D. Eisenhower, D-Day, 6 June 1944, “We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared. So that we may be always free.” , President Ronald W. Reagan 6 June 1984 , Korean War , Dates: 1950-1958 , Service Members: 5,720,000 , Battle Deaths: 33,741, “In war, there is no substitute for victory.” , General of the Army, Douglas MacArthur, Vietnam War , Dates: 1964-1973 , Service Members: 8,744,000 , Battle Deaths: 47,424 (updated annually), “In this war, a soldier has to be much more than a man whose only objective is to kill. He has to be part diplomat, part technician, part politician , and 100% a human being.” , Major General Lewis W. Walt, USMC, Persian Gulf War , Dates: 1990-1991 , Service Members: 2,225,000 , Battle Deaths: 147 , “My confidence in you is total, our cause is just. Now you must be the thunder and lightning of Operation Desert Storm.” , General Norman Schwarzkopf, Commander