Mayor Coss Visits Sculpture
Mayor David Coss of Santa Fe, recently came by to artist and Pojoaque Governor George Rivera’s studio to witness the completed commemorative Leroy Petry Medal of Honor sculpture to be installed at city hall in June. US Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry received the nation’s highest medal for valor, the Medal of Honor on July 12, 2011.
“Every human impulse would tell someone to turn away. Every soldier is trained to seek cover. That’s what Sergeant Leroy Petry could have done. Instead, this wounded Ranger, this 28-year-old man with his whole life ahead of him, this husband and father of four, did something extraordinary. He lunged forward, toward the live grenade. He picked it up…and threw it back – just as it exploded.”
-U.S. President Barack Obama
The story of Leroy Petry has inspired the Pueblo of Pojoaque to invest in the completion of a commemorative statue to salute his virtuous actions. In creating the stature, Pojoaque hopes that future generations will be encouraged to follow the admirable actions of our local hero – Leroy Petry.