sbp
12-21-2004, 02:35 AM
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/politics/10407001.htm
A construction contractor and his neighbors honored U.S. troops stationed overseas Sunday by erecting a 48-foot iron replica of an American soldier covered with 4,000 feet of twinkling lights.
Larry Hamilton, 52, pushed his creation to its feet with a crane about five miles west of Interstate 5 on Highway 12. The thousands of lights include green bulbs for the soldier's uniform, white for its hands and face and blue for the rifle it carries. After lighting the sculpture, some friends and neighbors toasted the soldier with Bud Lights.
Laura Hamilton said the sculpture is about honoring American soldiers who won't be home for the holidays, not about starting a political debate.
"Our support is for the military. That's all," she said.
Hamilton said it took about a month to make the sculpture. Hamilton's past Christmas creations include a 52-foot iron replica of Jesus and a 40-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty.
http://www.littleboyinc.com/uploader/uploads/soldier.jpg
The father and son team of Tony, left, and Larry Hamilton, proudly stand in front of a 48-foot-tall lighted soldier replica moments after it was completed.
in-depth story: here (http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:nzTWOVrCsAkJ:lodinews.com/articles/2004/12/13/news/02_soldier_041213.txt)
A construction contractor and his neighbors honored U.S. troops stationed overseas Sunday by erecting a 48-foot iron replica of an American soldier covered with 4,000 feet of twinkling lights.
Larry Hamilton, 52, pushed his creation to its feet with a crane about five miles west of Interstate 5 on Highway 12. The thousands of lights include green bulbs for the soldier's uniform, white for its hands and face and blue for the rifle it carries. After lighting the sculpture, some friends and neighbors toasted the soldier with Bud Lights.
Laura Hamilton said the sculpture is about honoring American soldiers who won't be home for the holidays, not about starting a political debate.
"Our support is for the military. That's all," she said.
Hamilton said it took about a month to make the sculpture. Hamilton's past Christmas creations include a 52-foot iron replica of Jesus and a 40-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty.
http://www.littleboyinc.com/uploader/uploads/soldier.jpg
The father and son team of Tony, left, and Larry Hamilton, proudly stand in front of a 48-foot-tall lighted soldier replica moments after it was completed.
in-depth story: here (http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:nzTWOVrCsAkJ:lodinews.com/articles/2004/12/13/news/02_soldier_041213.txt)