"I carved this memorial in dedication to those who have suffered a loss in the service of others. I want to quietly honor the courage of the hero who has died, and the everyday courage of the hero who is left. This patriot’s grief is to be honored as well. There are other figures in the marketplace about patriotism and honor, but I wanted to create one that acknowledged personal loss. Hero is a melancholy piece. I see it as very much a memorial. On a very personal level, keeping safe your memory is an intimate promise made to one who is gone ... I hope the gesture of her embrace reflects some of these ideas.” –Susan Lordi