Local artist Patsy Davis sculpture Semper Fi, which has been sitting in front of the Bauer House, is on its way to Liberty State Park in Jersey City, N.J. It will be there for the 10-year anniversary of Sept. 11 events that will be held in New York City. Liberty State Park is on New York Harbor, close to the Statue of Liberty, and will be a good spot for the rescue dog statue.
The ceremony at the park is slated to begin at 11:45 a.m. that day, and the reason that this particular statue is going to be there is to try and garner support and recognition for rescue dogs, especially those that were such a big help at Ground Zero 10 years ago.
We hope to elicit some response from the community to place the statue at Ground Zero, said Barbara Schwartz, a local woman who planned to go New York City today. She also will take a smaller version of Semper Fi with her to gain support and to raise funds at various area dog shows.
Finding One Another, an organization that Schwartz is passionate about, raises money for these rescue dogs and will honor the ones who worked so hard on Sept. 11.
This will be the first tribute for rescue animals since 9/11, she said.
Davis said displaying the sculpture is fabulous.
Its a big job just getting a sculpture of that size across the country, she said. But having something this big representing dogs is just great!
Davis is glad to see Semper Fi at the ceremony and anticipates many people will see it who wouldnt be able to otherwise.
This is such an important event for so many people, she said. What happened on Sept. 11 didnt just happen to New York City. It happened to the whole country, and having that statue anywhere is a good thing.
The piece weighs about 500 pounds and is hollow, as all bronze sculptures are, Davis said. She constructed it in 2007 and worked on it for many months. She has captured a unique look on the face of the dog, one of caring and urgency at the same time.
You dont have to be an art aficionado to love this piece, she said.
Schwartz is trying to get the statue placed at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia. They have a project that follows the health of search and rescue dogs, such as specific disease, etc., Schwartz said.
For more information about the Working Dog Recognition Ceremony on Sept. 11, go to www.findingoneanother.org/recognition-ceremony.