Worst war memorial ever

Posted By P.J. Aroon Tuesday, October 9, 2007 - 10:11 AM Share

War memorials usually honor those who served and died in violent conflicts. A memorial set to go on display in a central London art fair this coming Thursday, though, is intended to honor those willing but unable to serve in the Iraq war. Yes, that's right: willing but unable to serve.

The memorial features Britain's Prince Harry, who was supposed to be deployed to Iraq but ended up not being able to go because of specific threats made against him as a high-value target. The statue of Harry shows him lying dead in front of the British flag, with his head resting on a Bible and pennies covering his eyes. A desert vulture is perched on his boot. He will be earless, in line with threats from militia leaders who said they would send him back to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, "without his ears." (Curiously, photos of the statue show it with ears, so perhaps they haven't been removed yet? Regardless, a bronze casting of the severed ears will be auctioned on eBay.)

The controversial man behind the memorial, New York's Daniel Edwards, says, "Prince Harry's spirit must have died the day they told him he couldn't serve. That's what this memorial is about."

A spokesman for the art fair says people can send their condolences to the Web site PrinceHarryMemorial.com, but so far, most visitors' comments have been ones of utter disgust.

EXPLORE:EUROPE, BRITAIN, IRAQ, MILITARY

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