Sculpture of soldier to be dedicated at GVSU Veterans Day event

A bronze sculpture of a soldier and Grand Rapids native who was killed during the Vietnam War will be dedicated at a celebration of veterans at Grand Valley State University on Veterans Day, November 11. 

The artist, Edward Byrd, met the soldier, Dennis Lobbezoo, while working as a medical officer in Vietnam. Lobbezoo had a lasting impression on Byrd. About 45 years later, upon his retirement as a neurosurgeon, Byrd studied art and created a sculpture of him. 

Henry Matthews, director of Galleries and Collections, said Byrd contacted him because he wanted the statue to have a home in Grand Rapids; Byrd lives in South Carolina. “The statue is of Lobbezoo, but it represents all veterans,” Matthews said. “This piece will fit nicely at Grand Valley because it is of high quality and substance, and the university is committed to supporting military members and veterans.” 

Veterans Day Breakfast and Sculpture Dedication

Tuesday, November 11

7:30-9 a.m., DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus

Program: 8 a.m., Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall, building E, room 105 

Dedication: 8:30 a.m., Steelcase Library lobby, building A, room 104

President Thomas J. Haas, Edward Byrd and Tim Lobbezoo — Dennis Lobbezoo’s nephew — will give remarks during the breakfast. Event attendees will include students, faculty and staff members who are current military members or veterans. 

The 27-inch-long, 14-inch-tall statue will be displayed in the lobby outside of the Steelcase Library in the DeVos Center of the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. 

“Bryd requested that we don’t encase the sculpture, so people can touch it, and that it be handicap accessible, so we kept that in mind when we built a custom pedestal for it,” said Matthews. 

Grand Valley provides support and resources for service members and veterans, including in-state tuition for veterans and active military members who are stationed in Michigan. The university is a member of the Consortium of Michigan Veteran Educators, a statewide network of institutions that works to support military members and veterans and ensure access to resources that can lead to employment. Grand Valley is also part of the “8 Keys to Veterans’ Success” initiative through the U.S. Departments of Education and Veterans Affairs.

For more information about Grand Valley’s Student Veterans Network, visit www.gvsu.edu/veterans or read the Grand Valley Magazine story.