Dawn of Hope

by Mary Lou Gresham

Mary Lou Gresham’s “Dawn of Hope” is a life-sized bronze that stands tall in front of Russell Dougherty Elementary School. This memorial is dedicated to the young men and women from Edmond who served their country during World War II. The bricks surrounding the statue are dedicated to our military members, including those who died by Russell’s side. Russell Dougherty was an Edmond, OK, native and the first graduate of Edmond High School killed in action during World War II at the age of 24, with the Army 307th Bomb Group known as the Long Rangers. He was a Co-pilot on a B-24 Liberator bomber. Russell Dougherty was killed along with his entire crew when their aircraft failed to clear jungles trees at the end of the runway at Guadalcanal in the Pacific. The name “Dawn of Hope” was chosen to show us the role of the United States Military in Guadalcanal. As Dougherty heads to his aircraft, it is on the last dawn of his life. He carries his parachute and looks up at the morning sky as the sun rises, the glare reflects off his sunglasses. “Dawn of Hope” faces to the East, so the sun catches his glasses, just like it did on Dougherty's final morning. Purchased through the Edmond Visual Arts Commission (EVAC) with a private donor/public matching fund program called Art in Public Places with the Edmond Parks Foundation.

Worktype: People Sculptures