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Show Feature Levi Stewart Memorial - the sculptor's story SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY JUNE 27, 2001 Marines struck that island. One was missing. A 59,999 to one The Levi Stewart Memorial chance. But I didnt believe for has engaged the attention, fia moment that it was coincinancial support and enthusiasdence. My mission to serve my labor of many tic hands-oKanabites. country had been foiled by a Within superior force. I blamed that suIt has been exhilarating for a day, the rea- perior force for interfering the sculptor to have participated son for their with my plans. As the enormity in these events and to have created the statue. preoccupation of the debacle sank in, I became became evi- angry with Him. I asked Him Georgenia Stewart, a direct indent. My bud- over and over again why he had descendant of Levi Stewart, dies were com- separated me from my comrades terviewed me at herhome in Las vive. That ing into the during this time of trial. But I Vegas and somehow she comment was to hospital from received no answer, at least He prompted me to describe events enough the battlefield. never answered with words. that led to the creation of her bring our little I came to the conclusion that discussion to a ancestors statue. They were He had something for me to do. men with The battle of Iwo Jima played close. We went bewhom I had I began to wonder what it was. a crucial part in those events. be trained for two It had to be important, odds of low to our The people of Kanab may interested to know how forces bunks, but in years; fine 59,999 to one. But nothing hapof middle beyond our control affect our the strong men, pened. filled with an lives. the night I Eventually I was mustered out de woke of with of the Marine Corps and purThe picture the flag raising up esprit corps that provided sued the same activities as at Iwo Jima may help you re- a stomach no allowance 16,000,000 other veterans. We member one of the most terrible ache. I went were taking advantage of the battles and one of the most rec- to the sick bay World told War was of and destructibility. G.I. Bill, we were getting marognized symbols II. The battle took place 56years that I had But now, one ried, having children, producing beis who a acute There had been the baby boomer generation and appenago. relationship a good runner the hippies. We were going to tween that battle and the statue dicitis and The famoussculpture Iwo Jima from World War II. of Levi Stewart. was without a college and beginning to make that I needed Sixty thousand Marines were an operation, now. up to within about 150 feet on leg. One without an arm. One our contribution to society, but About 30 hours later, one our port side, calming the waves riddled through the body with none of these things came close headed for this tiny island in the Pacific Ocean. Our mission was bright and shining morning I between the ships. Then I saw a machinegun fire. There were to a 59,999 to one ratio. to take the island and we knew was transferred to a stretcher, seaplane between the ships. I others whom I didnt know who So I became a professor of -- the battle would be fierce. condito on and in taken topside placed the was lowered it, pulled aboard were equally serious sculpture and I made sculpture As our ships were plowing to- deck. A boom swung over my and we took off. I noted that I tion. Some died, on the side. I made quite a few I began to wonder why I was public commissions, many priward the island, a small group of head. My stretcher was tied to7 was the only passenger before us gathered on deck one night the boom and I was lifted up and falling asleep. saved from the slaughter. Sixty vate commissions and a lot of I I of about chances side of our over woke the the when was we thousand arrived at ship. guessing Marines, no 59,999 speculative work, but none of it up struck me as extraordinary. An entire career was spent in these activities and I finally retired. I had no sooner retired when I read an article in the newspaper about the Iwo Jima Survivors Association planning a statue of the Iwo Jima flag raising. I thought that if I could get this job it would be the 59,999 to one deal assigned by my Maker. (msm I wrote the president of the association offering my services. 5r.iu. ,! if He answered my letter promptly WE AT KANAB TIRE APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS saying that he was sorry, that a young Hungarian sculptor had V ,. AND WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU WITH THESE SPECIAL OFFERS just been hired to do the job, but he invited me to join the association. I was elected to the executive committee and served as artistic consultant on the project. ROTATION & YOUR NEXT OIL CHANGE & FILTER But those responsibilities were Price includes oil disposal fee, up to 5 qts. of oil COMPLETE TIRE INSPECTION Featuring not of a 59,999 to one ratio. I was and chassis lubrication (if applicable) sorely disappointed, but there was a different mission in the offing of which I knew nothing. SHOCKS & STRUTS AND BRING IT IN TO KANAB TIRE And in Kanab, several years Not to be combined with another discount or used to reduce later, I would learn what it was. In 1994 we travelled around outstanding debt Coupon must be redeemed. the country looking for an atOniy one coupon per car tractive place for retirement. The winters in Connecticut were like Siberia, the summers were like a tropical rain forest with unbelievable humidity and insects. The cost of living was high, the population and pollution make life uncomfortable. By Searle survival. A man standing next to me said he lived through the battle of Guadalcanal so he would surely survive this one. Another man expected to be wounded, but that he would return to fight another day. I told the group that I did not expect to sur- Lansing-Jone- s n swinging around precariously because the seas were rough, Amazingly I wasnt afraid, only bemused. I must have been given a sedative. Another ship pulled the island of Saipan. I was taken to a hospital where again, I was the only patient. It was surreal, Nurses were scurrying busily about even though there were no patients. for PMpmvwnut 1 $5.00 FUSEE IFF Road Hazard Protection 4-TI- RE CLIP THIS AD! 265 East 300 South 'i i lU'.', . v K ' t t i.f ;.!) i .. Kanab 644-255- 7 See SCULPTOR, Page 11 , i i , , , - s' Y s, s' ' -- r-. r r - r i j tr . Vs |