| Show I Vets Administration tion Information Service I Two GI 01 business loan loam recently paid In full have helped finance one of the I largest statues In n the world now n w nearing completion In n a multi story art ar Studio 5 I In Washington D. D C. C The sculptor Felix G. G G DeWeldon I Vienna-born Vienna World War W r II Navy veteran vet during his has year 20 career carved busts I of notables the world over Including President Truman and King Kind George of England I His present protect project started five years years ago Is a foot high statue of of the celebrated Marine raising flag-raising ceremony I on Iwo Jimas Jima's Mount i In Feb Feb- February February 1945 I A press cameraman caught that drama tic moment and not long afterwards DeWeldon still In service was assigned the task of producing a n. small-scale small sta sta- statue sta- sta statue tue from the photograph Three Marine survivors of or the Iwo Jima raising flag-raising t were flown to ro the United States to pose II for him The model third one-third life size was presented to President Truman In June 1945 the Marine Corps Memorial Foundation asked DeWeldon I to repeat tho the statue statue many many times larger as as the focal point of a permanent I Marine Memorial being planned on a site between Washington D D. D C C. and Mount Vernon Virginia The ton carving already has cost a small fortune DeWeldon said He per per- personally personally personally Invested many thousands of dollars not dollars not Including his time time for for I materials sub contracts and assistance uy necessary equipment he obtain obtain- I I ed two GI loans one loans one for another for as as well ell as In non- non Final t n-t I GI GJ loans from banks b Final payment on his GI loans were made In November 1950 1950 Im Tm not Interested In making a profit I on the project DeWeldon says And the i Marine Corps Memorial Foundation promised to see to ro It that he doesn't I lose any money either At present the I Foundation Is raising funds for the am- am amt amI t memorial I I DeWeldon's monument Is said to be bethe bethe bethe the largest depicting action statue of or ori I i its Us kind In n the world I Each of Its six figures Is 32 feet tall I Their legs are 15 feet long and their arms stretch for 12 feet Helmets meas mess measure measure ure ure 11 it feet around and the canteens hanging i from their tb lr waists could hold 8 I gallons of water M M-l M- M rifles slung over I their shoulders are 16 feet long and andI I the tho combat knives strapped to their cartridge belts are five feet from point I to ro handle I The statue Itself Is practically com com- The next st step p DeWeldon said I Is to cut the platter plaster and steel model Into sections so that they'll fit In a freight train and ship them to a n plant on on Long Island New York There they will be made Into molds from which the I finished bronze monument will emerge I Work Is scheduled to ro begin soon on the tho Marine Memorial of o which the statue is to be a a. part Plans call for forthe forthe forthe the statue to rest above a circular un un- underground underground underground museum which will housa house Marine Trophies and souvenirs of oJ past 1 campaigns Above ground circling the ui statue flags of all the states and ter i will fly The entire project is expected to be completed by 1952 I r. r j |
