Special Forces Soldiers Unveil Statue Honoring Their Service

Bebeto Matthews/Associated Press Special Forces soldiers unveiled “De Oppresso Liber” at ground zero on Friday. The statue honors soldiers who fought in Afghanistan.

Several Army Special Forces soldiers who rode horses into battle in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks gathered at ground zero on Friday for the unveiling of a statue commemorating their service.

The statue, a giant bronze titled “De Oppresso Liber,” was moved to the site near the 1 World Trade Center tower on Tuesday night in preparation for the rededication ceremony. Patrick J. Foye, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which controls the trade center site, has agreed to keep the statue there - though only temporarily in its current position on Vesey Street.

The statue is not within the official 9/11 Memorial at ground zero, but Vince McGowan, president of the War Veterans Council, which owns the statue, said, “This work of art will remind all visitors to the W.T.C. Memorial of those who altered the course of history after Sept. 11, 2001.”

Officials from the 9/11 Memorial have been resisting demands from relatives of people killed in the attack and community leaders from Lower Manhattan to accept a different bronze sculpture â€" the damaged sphere that stood in the middle of the trade center plaza. But the memorial's board, which is chaired by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, has said it does not fit there. No city officials spoke at the ceremony on Friday,

Along with Mr. Foye, the speakers at the 90-minute ceremony included Lt. Gen. John F. Mulholland, Lt. Gov. Robert J. Duffy and Michael A. Sheehan, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict.

After the ceremony, General Mulholland and several officers visiting from Fort Bragg, N.C., rode freight elevators to the 90th floor of 1 World Trade Center. One of the officers, Master Sgt. Michael Elmore, recounted how he adapted to traveling on horseback for the first time when he arrived in Afghanistan.

“They told us: Get on the horse and let's move,” he said. “We were able to adapt.”

Though the rainy weather obscured their view of the city and the memorial below, General Mulholland said he was impressed by the engineering of the tower. Before descending, he left a message in black marker on an interior wall: “God bless all who work here. Strength & Honor.”