Honoring the admiral
October 25, 2009, 5:00AM
Andrew DeVries' sculpture depicts a homeless soldier.
The recipient of Soldier On’s annual award, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will receive a bronze sculpture poured by Berkshires-based sculptor Andrew DeVries. The sculpture depicts a homeless vet carrying what Soldier On President John E. Downing describes as a “bindle stick.” For those unfamiliar with the term, a bindle stick is a pole with a small bag on the end commonly used in old-time depictions of hoboes or runaways.
DeVries agreed to do the piece “at cost or less,” Downing said.
“It’s a beautiful piece of artwork and we are tremendously blessed to have Andrew do it for us,” Downing said. “When you talk to people that know sculpture, they will say ‘You know, this is just exquisite.’”
Mullen, the highest ranking officer in the United States Armed Forces, is scheduled to attend a dinner and award presentation at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke on Thursday. Mullen is being honored for his commitment to improving the lives of homeless veterans.