LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Memorial Day is all about taking a moment and remembering those who served in the Armed Forces.
For those of us in Central Arkansas, there is a well known sculpture that is a tribute to two war heroes at the same time. Here's the story.
John Yancey earned the Navy Cross in World War II. He led a small group of Marines in a charge of a Japanese machine gun on Guadacanal. After the war, Yancey became a Marine Reservist, but when the Korean War began, he was called into duty a second time. He would again earn a Navy Cross with a heroic defense of a key hill in North Korea. He became the most decorated Arkansas Marine in history.
In 1961, European sculptor Sacha Schnittmann was commissioned by Pulaski Federal Savings and Loan, to sculpt a bust of Count Pulaski. When Schnittmann saw a drawing of the actual Count, he was not impressed. He had met John Yancey though, and knew of his exploits on the battlefield. Yancey had the look that Schnittmann was after.
What we see today, when looking at this famous Pulaski County sculpture, is not Count Pulaski, but the face of John Yancey. You can see the original bust today at its permanent home in the rotunda of the Pulaski County Courthouse.
There is also one that is outside the County Offices Building on Broadway. You can also find one in Riverfront Park on the walkway near the water park. Obviously, though, no one associated with Riverfest was aware of the Pulaski/Yancey story because the bust is between two rows of Porta-Potty's!
Still, while at Riverfest, a good way to observe Memorial Day would be to drop by the statue and simply say: "Thank you, John." He's famous John among many.
