The Torch of Freedom, (sculpture).

The Torch of Freedom, (sculpture).

De Weldon, Felix George Weihs, 1907-2003, sculptor.

Bedi-Makky Art Foundry, founder.

The Torch of Freedom, (sculpture).

Sculpture: possibly bronze; Base: granite (?) on a marble slab.

Sculpture: approx. H. 35 ft. W. 7 ft.; Base: approx. H. 1 in. W. 9 ft.

(Sculpture, first plaque near base:) 1778/1976/OUT OF THE PAST SO GREAT/TO BUILD A GREATER FUTURE/IN HONOR AND MEMORY/OF THE VETERANS/OF ALL AMERICA'S WARS/WHO BY THEIR SERVICE KEPT THE/TORCH OF FREEDOM/BURNING/THIS MONUMENT IS DEDICATED BY/VETERANS OF FOREIGN/WARS OF THE U.S./AND/THE LADIES AUXILIARY TO THE V.F.W./IN HONOR/OF ALL WHO HAVE SERVED/THEIR PARENTS, WIVES AND CHILDREN/FELIX DE WELDON/SCULPTOR 1976 (Sculpture reliefs, from bottom to top, below first relief:) "THE SPIRIT OF '76" (Below second relief:) CIVIL WAR "THOUGHT MAY THE MINDS OF MEN DIVIDE"/APPOMATTOX "LOVE MAKES THE HEART OF NATIONS ONE"/HOWE (Below third relief:) WORLD WAR I "LAFAYETTE, WE ARE HERE"/PERSHING (Below fourth relief:) WORLD WAR II "UNCOMMON VALOR WAS A COMMON VIRTUE"/PACIFIC NIMITZ

(Sculpture, second plaque near base:) SINCE WARS BEGIN THE MINDS OF MEN, IT IS IN THE/MINDS OF MEN THAT DEFENSES OF PEACE MUST BE CONSTRUCTED (On seals of plaque:) DEPT. OF THE ARMY / DEPT. OF THE AIR FORCE (Sculpture reliefs, from bottom to top, below first relief:) WAR OF 1812 "OH SAY CAN YOU SEE.../THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE"/FRANCIS SCOTT KEY (Below second relief:) THE UNION (Below third relief:) SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR "REMEMBER THE MAINE"/BATTLE CRY (Below fourth relief:) VIETNAM "THE MISSING WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN -/THEIR GLORY WILL LIVE FOREVER"/SCULPTOR

(Sculpture, third plaque near base:) THE U.S. CONSIDERS ANY ATTEMPT TO EXTEND OTHER SYSTEMS/TO THIS HEMISPHERE DANGEROUS TO OUR PEACE AND SAFETY" MONROE (On seals:) DEPT. OF THE NAVY / DEPT. OF NAVY MARINES/US COAST GUARD (Sculpture reliefs, from bottom to top, below first relief:) AMERICAN REVOLUTION/BATTLE OF YORKTOWN/"THESE ARE THE TIMES THAT TRY MEN'S SOULS"/THOMAS PAINE (Below second relief:) THE CONFEDERACY (Below third relief:) WORLD WAR II/ATLANTIC/"VICTORY HOWEVER LONG AND HARD THE/ROAD MAY BE FOR WITH OUT VICTORY THERE IS NO SURVIVAL"/CHURCHILL (Below fourth relief:) KOREA "LAND OF THE MORNING CALM - PRELUDE TO/THE STORM"/RIDGEWAY

Bedi-Makky Foundry/New York (Base:) Felix de Weldon signed Founder's mark appears.

A three-sided column topped with a gilded torch. Each side of the column is adorned with four reliefs depicting battle scenes. A gilded inscription appears below each relief identifying the battle scene. A granite inscription plaque with bronze military stars and a giant globe in located near the base on two of the sides. On the third side, another granite plaque with two bronze stars and an inscription is located near the base. The sculpture rests on a flat marble slab base.

Allegory -- Element -- Fire

Allegory -- Civic -- Liberty

Object -- Other -- Torch

History -- United States -- Military history

History -- United States -- Revolution

History -- United States -- Spanish American War

History -- United States -- World War I

History -- United States -- World War II

History -- United States -- Korean War

History -- United States -- Vietnam War

Outdoor Sculpture -- District of Columbia -- Washington

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Constitution Avenue & 2nd Street at Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, District of Columbia

Image in Washington Post, August 4, 1976, is of just one side of the sculpture.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1993.

Goode, James M., "Washington Sculpture: A Cultural History of Outdoor Sculpture in the Nation's Capitol," Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008, no. 1.37.

Washington Post, August 4, 1976, pg. D6.

Goode, James M., "Washington Sculpture: A Cultural History of Outdoor Sculpture in the Nation's Capitol," Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008, no. 1.37.

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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