In the picture, a soldier, loaded down in full gear, is running across a field with a young child in his arms. The soldier looks determined but a little worried. The child is disheveled, half-clothed, and frightened. The soldier is PFC Joseph Dwyer, an Army Medic serving in Iraq. The boy was injured during a heavy battle between US troops and Iraqi forces.
The picture, taken in 2003, has become an iconic reminder of the tragedy of war and heroism of the American soldier. It was printed in newspapers around the world.
Years later, PFC Joseph Dwyer, who lived in North Carolina at the time but was from Mount Sinai, lost his long battle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). His story inspired a state program called the Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project to help other soldiers suffering from PTSD on Long Island.
Recently, a statue was unveiled at Brookhaven Town's Veterans Memorial Square that recreates the photo snapped by Army Times photographer Warren Zinn.
In an interview with NPR, Zinn said that when he captured PFC Dwyer running with the 4-year-old boy named Ali Sattar he hoped he was able to get the shot right.
“I knew this was just really a beautiful moment that people needed to see, and I wanted to make sure that I nailed it,” he said.
A $65,000 grant that VFW Post 6249 in Rocky Point secured through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) from former NYS Senator Ken LaValle paid for the statue created by Alan E. Fricke Memorials.
During a ceremony, Rocky Point VFW Post 6249 Commander, Joe Cognitore said that the goal of his organization is to preserve and respect our history.
“The statue of Joseph Dwyer depicts the values of our men and women in the military,” Cognitore said. “Joseph Dwyer is truly a local hero.”
He then thanked former Senator LaValle and Brookhaven Town officials for getting the statue made and placed in the town park.
“His statue and more importantly what he stood for will stand in Rocky Point for others to see and better understand his achievements for years to come,” said Cognitore.