“Dayton was one of the first VA sites, so this is a celebration of the VA and Lincoln and what he did,” Major said. “This is Lincoln as he would have looked signing the document that created the soldiers and sailors asylum just before he was assassinated, and of course that became the VA.”
PHOTOS: 1,700 pound Abraham Lincoln takes a ride from Urbana to Dayton
The group from the American Veterans Heritage Center and the motorcyclists from a group called the Southwest Gold Wing Riders Association Chapter 7, started the procession down U.S. 68.
Major said the Lincoln statue is the equivalent of 12 to 15 feet tall if he were standing and weighs 1,700 pounds.
READ: Coronavirus: Clark State provides fall return dates, reopening plans
“To work on this was therapeutic, not only working with the clay because that’s therapeutic, but creating something as close to the likeness of Lincoln as possible, giving him the dignity that he deserves… Trying to make it authentic is a wonderful experience.”
The sculpture will be held in storage until the site is ready for it at the Dayton VA Center.
“At some point when I’m finishing detail, there’s some kind of life coming into the piece, it comes alive,” Major said. “It feels like this is something that will last for generations and it will continue to lead people to want to know more about Lincoln and continue to appreciate what he’s done.”
READ: Free virtual 4-H camp scheduled for Clark County kids
Major also works to create and restore public monuments across the country, including the statue of Shawnee leader, Tecumseh near the Springfield Museum of Art, an 8-foot bronze statue of boxer Davey Moore in Springfield and an 11-foot bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln in downtown Dayton.
About the Author