SC town welcomes new ‘doughboy’ statue

ANDERSON, S.C. (AP) — Three years after vandals destroyed its predecessor, the “Spirit of the American Doughboy” is back in Anderson.

The Anderson Independent-Mail reports (http://bit.ly/vPQrev ) that the 900-pound statue depicting an American soldier in World War I was placed on a cement pedestal in town on Tuesday.

The new statue, made by sculptor Maria Kirby-Smith, replaces one that was broken into more than 50 pieces in May 2008. The pieces remain at the Anderson County Museum, and no one has ever been arrested for the vandalism.

Vietnam veteran Robert Gillespie watched as the statue was lowered into place. He says it was heartbreaking when the old one was destroyed.

Kirby-Smith’s statue will be watched by a security camera.

An official unveiling ceremony is scheduled to be held at the statue on Veterans Day.

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Information from: Anderson Independent-Mail, http://www.andersonsc.com