Four life-sized bronze statues have come to define a space and identity for Pueblo, Colorado. Representing winners of the highest military award, the landmarks that make up Heroes Plaza personify the “Home of Heroes” theme that the city of Pueblo had previously adopted, bringing to life an identity that has cultivated a sense of connection on multiple levels.
Honoring Pueblo’s four Medal of Honor recipients
The Medal of Honor is the highest military award that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Because it is usually presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress, it is also inaccurately called the Congressional Medal of Honor. Since it was created in 1863, there have only been a few thousand recipients.
This rarity is what distinguished the four recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor who were from Pueblo, which is more honorees per capita than any other city in the United States. It was the only city to have this record of four living recipients from the same hometown, compelling the Pueblo City Council to adopt the “Home of Heroes” theme in 1993. This theme would be fully realized with the creation of Heroes Plaza in 2000.
Life-sized bronze statues of William Crawford, Drew Dix, Carl Sitter, and Raymond G. Murphy define Heroes Plaza. Markers under each tell the story of how these soldiers came to be awarded their medals. They reside in front of black granite slabs listing the names of all Medal of Honor Recipients.
Located just outside the Pueblo Convention Center, Heroes Plaza has become a place of reflection and connection for people from all over the region and country. Set in a prime location for the city, it highlights how a monument can go beyond words to truly define a space and community.
“The Home of Heroes”
Open to the public at all hours of the day, Heroes Plaza is featured on countless maps and guides to the city as well as on the “Home of Heroes Tour”, enabling residents and visitors to meaningfully engage with the “Home of Heroes” identity. Doing so has ensured that the space and community will continue to connect audiences across the eras.
