For the first time in the 23-year history of the Women In Military Service For America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, there is a monument honoring all military servicewomen, thanks to the work of Marin sculptor Susan Bahary.
Her life-sized bronze statue, “The Pledge,” unveiled Saturday, depicts a woman soldier in full combat gear, kneeling and cradling the face of her service dog as their eyes lock. The scene is an intimate look at the moments before the soldier and her dog head into battle, Bahary said.
“Maybe they’ll never see each other again,” Bahary said of the subjects in the piece. “But their job is to protect and serve. This exchange, it’s an unspoken commitment to each other. That is the pledge.”
It’s inspired by the bravery and the ability of all military women, the Novato artist said.
“It combines both strength and love into the piece,” Bahary said. “I hope it does justice to the service and sacrifice of all our military women, past, present and future.”
The sculpture is situated at the gateway of the memorial at Arlington cemetery. The work was commissioned by the U.S. War Dogs Association National Headquarters, a nonprofit that supports military service dogs and their handlers, and aims to promote and preserve the history of the service animals.
Bahary, who has been sculpting since 1989 and creating monuments since 1994, specializes in bronze statues showing the bond between animals and humans, and pieces that honor service animals.
Her notable works include the monument of the famous World War II dog Stubby, which is in Connecticut, and a statue of Sully, George H.W. Bush’s loyal service dog, which is at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas, among other projects.
She said the War Dogs Association knew of her work and came up with an idea to honor female war dog handlers. They decided to approach the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation about collaborating on the project.
Phyllis Wilson, who became president of the foundation 13 months ago, said, “When I came in I instantly fell in love with it and said, why wouldn’t we do this?”
The COVID-19 pandemic threw a few roadblocks along the way. But once the initial crisis began to settle down, the foundation chose to set the unveiling of the piece to coincide with the memorial’s 23rd anniversary.
It’s the only major memorial honoring women in the military, Wilson said.
“Many women back in the day had left the service with no fanfare, and sometimes not even a bus ticket home,” Wilson said. “Now on this anniversary when we continue to honor all the servicewomen who served and defended the nation, it’s really poignant to have this new monument. It’s inspiring and uplifting.”
Bijan Petri, owner of Petri’s Fine Arts, an online gallery based in Sausalito, said Bahary was the right choice for the piece. Petri has showcased Bahary’s work and even owns one of her creations as part of his personal collection.
“She’s a very accomplished artist,” he said.
Commenting on her work, he said, “You can really see the movement and the details. It makes the piece come alive.”
Bahary said it’s a great honor to have been selected to create this historic monument and that the timing of the unveiling couldn’t have been more perfect: It comes after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, a champion for women’s rights, and on the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which allowed women the right to vote.
“It was the women in the military who really helped pave the way because of their tremendous service,” Bahary said.
“I hope that the monument will stand as a lasting testament to women’s ability, both on and off the battlefield,” Bahary said.
“I hope that the military women will feel proud that this was made in their honor, that they’ll be able to connect with it, and that it will even be healing for some of them,” she said. “And for women who aren’t in the military, maybe they’ll find a sense of inspiration for whatever work they choose to do.”
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October 20, 2020 at 05:58AM
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Marin artist creates monument honoring military servicewomen - Marin Independent Journal
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