Placement of bronze will cap years of work

The unveiling of a bronze statue to commemorate the U.S. Army of the West Mormon Battalion, which traveled through Yuma 160 years ago, will be the culmination of more than a decade of work by Mayor Larry Nelson and other Yumans.

More than a decade ago, Nelson decided he wanted to honor the unit, made up largely of 600 Mormons, who traveled from Iowa to San Diego to build roads and go to war, if necessary. Nelson enlisted others in the cause to try to raise the money needed for a proper statue.

"We wanted to do something for the history of it," he said.

A small monument at 8th Street and the Colorado River commemorates where the battalion actually crossed in January 1847. But a statue of Philemon Merrill, an officer of the battalion, will be more visible because of its location - in the Yuma West Wetlands Park - and its size - 10 feet tall and weighing between one and two tons.

Nelson, who is Mormon, is the president of the nonprofit group The U.S. Army of the West Mormon Battalion Foundation. By selling maquettes, which are small replica statues, for $3,000 each as well as other commemorative items, the group raised the funds in private donations. The value of the statue is more than $200,000, Nelson said.

The Mormon Battalion was tapped by President James Polk to carve out roads in the Southwest that the military could use in the Mexican-American War. The Mormons were already planning to head west to avoid religious persecution and become a battalion allowed them to receive payment and support from the government.

The battalion traveled more than 1,500 miles by wagon, often having to clear obstacles in their way and survive harsh desert. The route the Mormons created was later followed by gold rushers and settlers.

"They were armed to fight but never had to," Nelson said.

Many Yumans, including Nelson, are descendants of those from the battalion. R.C. Merrill, the sculptor of the bronze, said Philemon Merrill is his great-great-grand uncle. R.C. Merrill lived in Yuma for many years, but now resides in Mesa and has a studio in Miami, Ariz.

The foundation paid R.C. Merrill's expenses, but he donated much of his work on the project. "It turned out pretty nice. I did a lot of research," he said.

R.C. Merrill said he collected historical items Philemon Merrill would have carried, such as his musket and ammo pouch, so that the sculpture would be historically accurate. He used the best photos that he could find to try to capture Philemon Merrill, although he admits there was some artistic license.

He could simply look to himself and members of his extended family for a little help. "There was definitely some family resemblance," he said.

Work started earlier this year and continued for about three and a half months. The statue then went to a foundry for bronzing. Merrill said he should get it back this coming week to put on a chemical color, known as the patina, and then it will be shined and transported to Yuma.

The unveiling is scheduled for 3 p.m. Jan. 11 on the west end of the West Wetlands Park, 1200 W. Water St. Nelson anticipates 400 to 600 people in attendance, including many traveling in from across the country.

The installation of the statue is at the foundation's expense, and they will provide ongoing conservation and maintenance of the statue. City strategic communications coordinator Greg Hyland said the nonprofit group is giving the statue to the city to be part of its public art program.

When the idea of the statue was first presented, there was some discussions about whether the city should be providing land for a project connected to a religion, but the project was approved by the Yuma City Council, Parks and Recreation Commission, Arts and Culture Commission and the ad hoc Public Art Committee.

Hyland said the statue is about a military unit, not promoting a religion. "It's not about the Mormons," he said. "It's about the Army of the West. Tucson has the same thing."

A similar Army of the West monument is in downtown Tucson. Yuma city staff contacted that city about their process for approving the monument.

Hyland said the city will provide maintenance around it, such as mowing, which they already do in the West Wetlands anyway. "If something happens to the statue, that's up to the foundation," he said.