The Soldier’s Statue will be the primary focal point of Centennial Park. The 20-foot high granite statue will honor the men and women who serve(d) our Nation as Soldiers in the world’s greatest Army. Granite is the strongest natural material carved by man, and is used to symbolize the strength and integrity of the U.S. Army Soldier and the enduring legacy of Fort Jackson.
Two U.S. Army Drill Sergeant images were selected for the Soldier’s Statue because they best represent the role Fort Jackson, (the Gateway to the Army), fulfills in creating the foundation of the U.S. Army. The statue honors their significant contribution in shaping America’s hero, the American Soldier.
The base of the statue is a large, round granite core surrounded by seven columns, each representing one of the Army Values (Loyalty-Duty-Respect-Honor-Integrity-Personal Courage). The cornerstone these values represent is symbolized by the 15-ton monolith supporting the monument. The monolith’s round shape emphasizes the Soldier’s never-ending devotion to these principles.
The Soldier’s Statue will stand as the enduring image the U.S. Army’s newest Soldiers, and their Family members, envision when they remember their time at Fort Jackson and in the great state of South Carolina.