The Protection of the Flag, (sculpture).

The Protection of the Flag, (sculpture).

Brewster, George Thomas, 1862-1943, sculptor.

Gorham Manufacturing Company, founder.

McKim, Mead & White, architectural firm.

The Protection of the Flag, (sculpture).

Defense of the Flag, (sculpture).

Commissioned 1902. Dedicated June 15, 1902.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: polished Stony Creek granite.

Sculpture: approx. 7 x 4 x 4 ft.; Base: approx. H. 12 ft.

(On top of bronze base, figures' proper left side:) G.T. Brewster Sr. (On front of granite base, raised bronze letters:) PRO PATRIA/ET GLORIA/ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF/OUR SOLDIERS/WHO FOUGHT/IN DEFENSE OF THE FLAG (On back of base:) PRESENTED TO THE TOWNSHIP OF ATHENS, BRADFORD COUNTY BY JOSEPH WHIPPLE AND CHARLOTTE SNELL STICKLER OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY signed

A war memorial depicting a soldier and a young drummer boy dressed in Revolutionary War attire. In his proper right hand, the soldier holds a rifle with the barrel pointed downward. His proper left hand is on the shoulder of the young drummer boy who stands at his side. The young boy holds a flag, which drapes over the shoulders of both figures. The young boy points ahead with his proper right index finger.

History -- United States -- Military history

Homage -- Snell, Jacob

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Object -- Other -- Flag

Outdoor Sculpture -- Pennsylvania -- Athens

Administered by Athens Borough, Borough Manager's Office, 2 South River Street, Athens, Pennsylvania 18810

Located Village Green, South Main Street, Athens, Pennsylvania

The sculpture was commissioned in 1902 by Joseph Whipple and Charlotte Snell Stickler, descendants of Jacob Snell, the first permanent settler in Athens, 1784. Snell was a Revolutionary War soldier who served under General John Sullivan during the Sullivan-Clinton Expedition. Although the figures of the soldier and drummer boy are dressed in Revolutionary War attire, the monument was erected in honor of Pennsylvania soldiers who fought in all wars.

IAS files contain related newsclippings from The Evening Times, June 7, 1968, and an undated excerpt from Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine.

Treated 2000 August. Williamstown Art Conservation Center (Williamstown, MA) Treatment report is on file with the owner.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Pennsylvania survey, 1995.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, PA0050, 1989.

Monumental News, July 1902, pg. 414.

SOS Assessment Award, 1998.

SOS Conservation Treatment Award, 1999.

SOS Conservation Notification Report, 2000.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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