LITTLETON, Colo. (July 4, 2007) – Family, friends and Littleton city officials view the larger-than-life bronze statue of Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny P. Dietz, who was honored by his hometown of Littleton, by dedicating the statue and park near his childhood family home. An estimated 3,000 people crowded the new park to honor the Sailor’s memory. Gunners Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny Dietz was killed in action while conducting counter-terrorism operations in Kunar Province, Afghanistan on June 28, 2005. Coalition forces located the Sailor and notified the family six days later on July 4. The Memorial dedication marks the second anniversary of this event. U.S. Navy photo by Boatswains Mate 1st Class Chet Mowrey
I had a post on this story up several months ago. A story that should have been about a brave petty officer who valiantly gave his life in support of his friends and in his country’s noble cause, but that instead turned on the issue of whether a statue of a Navy SEAL with a rifle in a city park where children might see would be somehow “inappropriate.” The local police department was sufficiently concerned that the statue might be vandalized before it was unveiled that they enlisted the assistance of the Colorado chapter of Rolling Thunder to help them maintain a vigil.
Richmond was our family home, a place where the statues of fallen soldiers are by no means unfamiliar sights. As a young boy I was told that the statues of J.E.B. Stuart and Stonewall Jackson faced north because they had died in battle, that Stuart wore his hat atop his head having been killed by Union troops, while Jackson was uncovered, having been accidentally shot by his own pickets returning to camp. I learned that the statue of Robert E. Lee faced south, hat in hand, having returned from battle to his home at last. They wore spurs, carried pistols and swords. I learned that these things had meaning, and as a young man I looked searchingly into the those mute granite faces, trying to understand.
So Danny gets to wear his hat, and carry his rifle and while I find it hard to believe that schoolchildren will be frightened by the bronze statue of a fallen warrior, I do not doubt that one at least will stop to wonder who this man was, and why he fought and how he fell.
Perhaps that child too will learn that these things have meaning.
“I find it hard to believe that schoolchildren will be frightened”
No, Lex, it is not incredible; it is by design.
They are taught to fear those who are honorable and strong. If they were instead to become like those we honor, the eventual power of the statist ideal is diminished.
Lex,
With good fortune on their side and if their parents give a tinker’s damn, they’ll be brought up to revere those heroes that have gone before them.
God, help us to be truly grateful for men such as Danny Dietz. May we never forget their sacrifice; and, may we never forget those that are currently at the tip of the spear-ever ready to lay down their lives if necessary.
Rest in peace, Petty Officer Dietz. We will not forget you or what you did.
I love that statue. What a perfect tribute to an American hero.
It’s great to see this made it, weapon and all.
It’s not like a kid has to try hard to see a weapon [aghem... News... aghem] or even use one [aghem... Video Game... aghem].
Not to mention regular recruiting posters or thoughts of the military in general. How much of our history is wrought with war?
At least there will be some tradition, a purpose, some honor, a history, a hero, and many other descriptions behind this particular weapon.
Hoo-Rah!
My kids will learn that these things have meaning. I guarantee it.
It’s an excellent statue, rightfully showing who he was and what he did. Children need to see those kind of monuments and hopefully the story behind them– of dedication to service, sacrifice and seflessness, sinks in on some level in a positive way.
There’s a wonderful statue of an american WWI soldier, with rifle in one hand and the other raised in a “follow me” gesture, in Memorial Park in the town I grew up in, just west of Chicago. My father always took us over to see it and read the marker plaque (sp?) when we went there for 4th of July concerts, and I read it again last night.
In the decades it’s been there never have there been negative comments or people disparaging it.
Those who think statues like that are inappropriate are ill-informed and refuse to open their minds. How can they see it like that? What don’t they get?
Rest well, Danny Dietz.
I think what I like best about the statue is how approachable he seems. He’s relaxed and squatting down, sort of at a child’s level, looking calm and very, very competent.
He looks like what he was, an American warrior.
I have faith that the children who will see his statue will see beyond the fears of their wimpy parents and teachers, and see the true worth of this man and his sacrifice for all of us.
I just finished the book Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell…Dietz’s teammate that survived Operation Redwing and how Dietz fought valliantly. It was amazing.
Marcus Luddrell, a SEAL teammate, describes Danny’s last fight in Lone Survivor. I am an old man now, but when I read about Danny’s bravery, I wished I were young again and could try to be like him. The SEALs deserve all America’s gratitude. More importantly, America should never betray the cause for which these men fought and so bravely died.
Hoorrraaahh to the statue and those who fought to keep his M4 and gear. A statue of him without his equipment will only devalue what he did for us? we should not fear our soldiers because they are trained to kill. We must remember that they are of us, and are there to keep us out of harms way. Danny and anyone who has lost their lives for us should be held up as heros! School children should know that they are protected from evil by men like Danny.