A bronze sculpture installed Thursday at Military Park serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifice and service shared by American and South Vietnamese soldiers in the Vietnam War.
The sculpture, commissioned jointly by the City of Oklahoma City and the Vietnamese American Community of Greater Oklahoma City and Metropolitan Areas, was created by artist Thomas Jay Warren. It was funded by a $210,000 donation from the Vietnamese American group, which raised an additional $40,000 for other elements of a memorial plaza with the sculpture as its centerpiece.
The sculpture is called “Brothers in Arms” and depicts an American soldier and a South Vietnamese soldier standing back to back, ready to face danger together as they did daily during the war.
“The two figures quite literally embody the soldier’s most solemn pledge: ‘I’ve got your back, brother,’” said Warren.
The soldiers stand at slightly larger than average life-size: 6 feet 6 inches tall for the American, and 6 feet tall for the South Vietnamese. They’re poised facing north on a 3 ½-foot tall pedestal that was locally designed to be part of a plaza that will serve as the site of war remembrance events.
The soldiers are wearing authentic Vietnam War-era uniforms and accessories. The patina on the bronze has different shades for their skin, uniform and boots to add depth and realism.
The memorial plaza also has flagpoles and a Vietnamese urn to be used for incense burning, a cultural tradition for remembrance events.
The sculpture will be dedicated at 3 p.m. Saturday at the park, which is located in the heart of Oklahoma City’s Asian District at NW 24th Street and Classen Boulevard. The event will include remarks by civic leaders, a presentation of colors, choral ensemble, dragon dance, ribbon cutting and laying of wreaths.
Warren was selected through a national competition coordinated by the City’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. The 12-person selection committee chose Warren’s concept from among 29 submissions from artists in 14 states.
Warren, a professional member of the National Sculpture Society, has designed 30 war memorial sculptures in 13 states and Canada.