Bells rang out in memory of those lost on 9/11 at a rededication ceremony in Chapel Hill on Wednesday for the sculpture that sits at the edge of the Chapel Hill Fire Station on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard.
“As I look at the sculpture, I see heroism, teamwork, connectivity, history, perseverance and community,” said fire chief Matt Sullivan. He spoke at the outdoor ceremony that took place beside the sculpture.
Its name is Promethean Honor Guard. And it was made 15 years ago by sculptor Mike Roig. Roig says he was inspired to create it after 9/11, and he began spending a lot of time with the Chapel Hill Fire Department so that he could be sure to capture the true spirit of a firefighter.
“The thing that’s really apparent about the firehouse culture is that it’s a team of people that work together.”
Promethean Honor Guard was originally installed outside the fire station on Bennett Road, but was moved to its new home so that it could be more easily viewed by the public. Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger also spoke at the ceremony and says she hopes to see more emphasis placed on art by the town.
“I want to see us do more with art. I think art is an integral part of our community”
Roig says he’s glad his work made a difference, even over a decade later.
“Fifteen years later, I’ve made hundreds of sculptures and made a lot of public sculptures, but this was the first.”
Promethean Honor Guard is now permanently installed outside fire station number one, honoring in particular the men and women of the CHFD.
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