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Austin Gets Peek At New Chris Kyle Statue


On Thursday, Austin got a sneak peak at the latest effort to honor a slain Navy SEAL. A statue being built for the Navy SEAL foundation now has a face -- the face of "American Sniper" Chris Kyle.

A huge truck carrying the clay version of the statue rolled into Austin today for a small ceremony at the Texas State Cemetery where Kyle is buried. The native people's "spirit ceremony" was intended to honor the warrior spirit that Kyle embodied. Aaron Pyle, with the Indigenous Cultures Institute says, "Our whole community these days is based largely around the Pow-Wow which in itself is a tradition of honoring the warrior, honoring the protectors of our community."

After the brief ceremony in Austin the statue was escorted to a foundry in Arlington by the Patriot Guard Riders, the same motorcycle group that escorted his body to Austin for burial. Larry Key, with the Patriot Guard Riders says, "Chris would not want any of this. But I think it's a way for our country to see what other veterans are doing for those who have served and have given so much for our freedom."

The statue of Chris Kyle will be on display in Arlington through the weekend. Then a bronze statue made from the clay model will be donated to Kyle's family. No word yet on where the statue will eventually stand.

By Fred Cantu