CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Monument Construction Committee has decided on a design for the monument coming the state capitol complex.
The committee has selected Christopher Alley to construct a memorial remembering the 40 West Virginians that died in the U.S. War on Terror.
The design of Alley that was chosen Monday is described as a soldier carrying a wounded soldier on his back.
“I want it to express not necessarily the aspect of war itself, but the values of warriors and of soldiers. Loyalty, sacrifice, brotherhood and never leaving a man or woman behind,” said House Majority Leader Pat McGeehan.
Cabinet Secretary Ryan Kennedy, a veteran of the war, agreed with McGeehan in choosing the design of a soldier carrying another.
“Being a veteran of War on Terror, the first thing I think of is you never leave a man behind,” Kennedy said. “That symbolizes that you’re picking up your wounded or possibly deceased comrade and you’re carrying them off the battlefield at risk of your own life because that’s what we do. That really spoke to me.”
Senator Tom Willis also had the design as his top choice.
The one potential problem with the design and artisan is a lack of a clear picture on the cost.
$750,000 has been appropriated for the project.