The statue is of a soldier in action, riding horseback in the line of duty. He's in uniform and outfitted in full gear. He appears to be turning to call to his fellow troops.This monument is not commemorating the American conflict in the 18th century, the Revolutionary War, or the 19th century's War Between the States. This statue depicts a Green Beret ten years ago, at the start of the Afghanistan war following September 11, 2001.
It's true that we learn something new each day--if we pay attention. I had never known that the first troops in the current war rode horseback in the rugged landscape of Afghanistan.
"It was as if the Jetsons had met the Flintstones," said Captain Will Summers, former Special Forces team sergeant for the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), as his team linked up and operated with members of the Afghan Northern Alliance just weeks after the 9/11 attacks.
The horse soldiers are just one of the many quiet background stories that underscore the dedication and resourcefulness of our military heroes. It is gratifying to know that their story has been captured in bronze and positioned for all to see, standing close by the site of the Twin Towers that were destroyed on 9/11.
