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Chris Kyle Statue Comes Through Austin

Updated: Thursday, March 7 2013, 07:19 AM CST

Chris Kyle was the retired Navy SEAL sniper who claimed 160 kills in his military career which included five tours in Iraq.  His autobiography "American Sniper" is being turned into a motion picture.  Kyle was murdered at a gun range by a fellow veteran who he had taken there to try to work out some issues.
 
Kyle was buried at the Texas State Cemetery with full honors, and now his likeness is being immortalized in a full-size statue.  Florida sculptor Greg Marra was already working on a statue of a generic elite warrior for the Navy SEAL Foundation when he got word of Kyle's death.  Marra's friend and promoter Gene Sweeney convinced Marra to put a face on the statue-- Chris Kyle's face.  Within days the work-in-progress was transformed into a tribute to Kyle which will be donated to his family in Midlothian.
 
The clay version makes a stop in Austin this morning at the Texas State Cemetery for a small ceremony before continuing on to a foundry in Arlington.

By Fred CantuChris Kyle Statue Comes Through Austin