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SLIDESHOW: Top of Utah Veterans Day Celebrations
HOOPER -- His homeland has not forgotten him, and now future generations will get to know Cpl. Michael A. Pursel through a bronze bust at the Hooper Civic Center.
Pursel's bust was unveiled Wednesday by his mother, Terry Dutcher, and Mayor Glenn Barrow during a Veterans Day ceremony honoring the fallen hero, who was serving in the Army when he was killed by an improvised explosive device in 2007 in Iraq. He was 19 years old.
"I know he is looking down on this in awe," said Pursel's stepfather, Jeff Dutcher. "I know he would thank everyone. This day will stay in our minds and in our hearts forever."
His family members hope that, as people pass through the building, they will stop and gaze upon Michael and remember the sacrifice he and others have made for the country. The bust will be a permanent fixture inside the city building.
The bust, provided by Operation Never Forget, was a mirror image of the young man in the photo displayed at the front of the room. Operation Never Forget is an organization dedicated to providing memorial busts of every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to its Web site.
Pursel's sister, Ashleigh, said the statue of her brother means more to the family than anyone will ever know.
"It looks great," she said. "They are so good to make it exactly how the family wants it to look. The first time they made Michael's ears too small. He had these big, goofy ears and big, bushy eyebrows, so they made those changes for us."
Ashleigh said being in the Army was her brother's lifelong goal.
"Ever since he was able to walk, he played Army. He always had a uniform, too," she said. "That's all he wanted to do."
It came as no surprise. Pursel's mother is currently in the Air Force, his father is retired from the Army and his stepfather is an Air Force retiree.
"I challenge all of you fathers and mothers to look closely at Michael," said U.S. Navy Reserve Capt. Reid Chambers. "As a permanent part of Hooper he is now your son, your grandson or your brother. Keep him in your prayers. Keep him in your heart. Never forget the sacrifice that your son has made."
Air Force Major General Kevin J. Sullivan said the nation's veterans represent a fundamental truth.
"It's not the powerful weapons that make our military the greatest nation in the world. It's not the sophisticated aircraft missiles, satellites and cyber technology that make us the most advanced," he said.
"The true strength of our military is the spirit and skill of our people. It is our privilege to say thank you to Cpl. Pursel for his courage and exemplary service."
Terry Dutcher said although her son's death turned her world upside down and brought darkness and gloom to her life, God brought light through the many friends the family never knew they had.
"We realized we had many friends and family in the community and at Hill Air Force Base," she said. "We woke up to 50 flags in our front yard and food on our table. In darkness, God always provides light."
