The Sculpture that Started it All

Title: WELCOME HOME
Medium: CLAY
Artist: L. Heather McMahan

The sculpture that inspired the formation of AFS by founder Heather McMahan is a clay rendition of desert issue boots, helmet and goggles arranged as if quickly removed by the soldier who is on his her her way home for leave. She paid the Austin airport to display it. To view the sculpture go to

www.heathermcmahansculpture.com/piece.htm

Hundreds of heartfelt e-mails from soldiers and their families led her to the realization that Art was a powerful venue to boost our soldiers' morale. To read these e-mails go to

www.artforsoldiers.org/art-soldiers.html

Welcome Home is currently at the security checkpoint near gate 15 at Austin Bergstrom International Airport and is sponsored by Argent Financial.

Heather is currently working on a memorial Sculpture consisting of an Eagle overlooking a Field Tomb. This is a design suggested by a Soldier named Zach Wobler, whom she never met but corresponded with for several years after he saw "Welcome Home" passing through the airport. Zach was killed in Mosul on feb 6 2005.

This sculpture will be cast in Bronze, 12' tall, and installed at the Kandahaar Airfield ramp where the fallen are taken home. Every coalition force has a monument in that location except the U.S.

Her gratitude is extended to Bruce McMahan, her father, who has generously offered to sponsor the casting of the piece.

heather.mcmahan@artforsoldiers.org