The Defender

Dedication

  Defender statue at the Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, OH.

The Defender stands over eight feet tall on his polished black granite pedestal. Our Defender at the Museum of the United States Air Force stands perpetual guard over the Memorial Park beside the museum. The project was begun with a simple bronze plaque beside the sidewalk. That plaque was dedicated on 24 October 1996. Later that year it was suggested that we place a statue at the museum. The cost was estimated at $96,000. A sculptor was found who had done a major work, a statue of Icarus, in the entrance hall of the museum--Eleftherios Karkadoulias. To add to his other credentials Mr. Karkadolulias had served as a military policeman in the Greek Army.

The Buckeye Chapter members in Dayton designed the footprint, and MSgt Mike Scott and Col (Ret) Jerry Bullock  created the laser engravings on the base. The  sale of the Memorial bricks ($100.00 each) haa helped pay for the statue. The final addition which included enlarging the footprint and installing two beautiful polished granite benches (one of which was donated by the SAC Elite Guard) was dedicated on 24 Ocr 200--exactly 10 years since the project began. A major part of the total cost of approximately $130,000 came from SF active duty units and AFSFA members. The site is still anchored by our 1996 bronze plaque.