Lt. Col. Paul Finken Memorial

Memorial Day is a solemn day for remembering those who have died serving in the American armed forces. The holiday, originally known as Decoration Day, started after the Civil War to honor both the Union and Confederate dead.

In 2007 I was asked to create a monument for Lt. Col. Paul Finken. I sat in the studio with his widow Jackie and their three small daughters to listen. I heard about a loving man from Iowa who was one of ten children. He loved his country and he deeply loved his family. He was killed by a roadside bomb on the final patrol of his year-long deployment.

Among the stories I heard from Jackie was one of how he took her hand and held it with tenderness when they first met. This inspired the lovingly carved sculptural feature of the two hands.

With Gratitude,
Karin Sprague