Towering Reclaimed Rifle Statues Now On Display at CMP Facilities
April 10, 2022
As part of its federal charter, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is provided surplus U.S. Army rifles from past conflicts, like the World War II M1 Garand, that are sold to qualified purchasers from around the country. The rifles are assembled from a stock of parts that are sorted and quality inspected, with the excess left sitting without purpose within CMP’s warehouse – until now.
In 2015, the CMP was searching for something productive and meaningful to do with all the company’s housed non-reclaimable M1 Garand parts. After some thought, the CMP Board approved the construction of a competitor statue composed of these scrap materials, which were welded by the Army for drill rifle use prior to CMP receiving them.
“The idea was to place a statue outside of the CMP South Competition Center in Alabama, to give the kids something to take a picture in front of after competition,” said CMP’s Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM), Mark Johnson. “The parts have significant historical value, and the statues will honor that history while representing the competitor.”
The project expanded to not only include the CMP’s South Competition Center in Anniston but also its 500-acre outdoor Talladega Marksmanship Park, also in Alabama, and the CMP Headquarters located at the Camp Perry National Guard Facility in northern Ohio.
The search for the individual who would construct the statues was simple – Jerry Antolik. An artist for over 50 years, Antolik has created several paintings that are currently on display at CMP’s offices and ranges, including the famous mural wall within Camp Perry’s Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center air gun range.
“When I was asked by Judy Legerski (Board chair) to weld, I had little experience with welding,” Antolik admitted. “I did have reservations about the project because learning and honing new skills is difficult in any profession.”
After contemplating the prospect for a year and receiving encouragement from a close friend, Danny Sameitz, Antolik agreed to take it on. Staying supportive, Sameitz allowed Antolik to use his shop, welder, cutting torch and other equipment to complete the statue.
Designing an 11-foot figure to mimic the proportion of a human figure using M1 barrels, gas tubes, receivers, bolts and trigger mechanisms is a constant challenge. The fumes coming out of the gun barrels need to be heated and require a special respirator, and the heavy steel is difficult to hold in place when attaching the arms and rifle.
“Welding is much different than painting, almost beyond comparison,” Antolik admitted. “The barrels don’t bend the way I want, so it is easier fabricate curves using the straight materials. I purchased additional flat steel to cut for the face and hands, hats, the base etc., and I continue to work to perfect a decent looking weld.”
The first statue took four months to complete and was placed at CMP’s Talladega Marksmanship Park in early 2016, fitting perfectly with the park’s grand opening. After the first three statues, more followed – each unique in their own ways, posed in different shooting postures, right- and left-handed or port arms positioned.
The number of parts in each statue varies, but Antolik’s most recent order included 180 barrels, 70 receivers with barrels, 30 bolts and 20 gas tubes. He has also added a heart to each statue – humanizing the somber pieces of American history.
“The parts are special to me,” Antolik said. “I look at the serial numbers on the receivers, knowing that many were used by our brave soldiers who gave their lives to give us the freedom we enjoy today. Our freedom came at an incredible cost!”
Antolik now uses a workspace on a ranch managed by his son, Joe, and has purchased a welder of his own. Joe and other friends have stopped by on occasion to model, offer inspiration, muscle and welding advice.
Currently, two male statues and two female statues, all in standing position, are located at Talladega, overlooking the 600-yard John C. Garand range. Statues are also on display at the South Competition Center and near Building 3 on the grounds of Camp Perry.
“All of the statues are meant to honor the sacrifices of our veterans while paying homage to the competitor and the discipline of the sport,” Johnson said.
Be sure to visit these statues as well as the various marksmanship-themed paintings by Jerry Antolik within all of CMP’s facilities. Find more works he has created over the last five decades at http://jerryantolik.com/.
Visited CMP Talladega last Saturday. The statues at impressive. Beautiful tribute.
Everything has a useable life. In this case it was extended in a positive way. Thanks to all who contributed in this respect.
This was a great idea! It honors all of our brave veterans, past and present.
These are awesome! I really like the idea of using these parts to build art instead of melting them down. I’ve done a bit of welding in my lifetime and would like to say “well done sir” to Jerry. He has done a great job for someone who hasn’t had a welding background. I hope I have an opportunity to see these at some point.
Outstanding idea and a great tribute to our brave members of the military. These rifle parts once used in violence now stand peacefully and remind us of what it takes to enjoy freedom.
Pretty impressive I think. As an amateur welder and fan of the M1 I can imagine the difficulty of this task. Job well job!
Awesome guards!!
So cool! Nice work
I don’t agree with Mel, above. I think this is very cool and does honor our veterans (I am one and feel honored).
General Geo Patton once remarked: “What a waste of fine infantry.”
You should have offered me the opportunity to build a rifle
I like the idea much better as CMP “Soldier” statues than the garand parts being melted down by china to be recast as AK74s!
While I’m not an art lover, it’s better to use these parts like this than to sell them for just a few cents as scrap metal.
Brilliantly! Looking forward to seeing it at Perry this summer.
Very ingenious. Way to go!
Great tribute to the rifles and the men who so capably use them. I only wish the the CMP had been able to see their way clear to send some of the unclaimed Garand parts back to the home country of the rifle’s chief designer – Garand was of course a Canadian by birth.
Hey, I know, when it gets cold you can load them with Garand and Carbine stocks and have a nice, toasty warm fire! Sort of a CMP Burning Man. And they can use 1911 wooden grips as kindling to get it started. Oh, and you can use Garand cleaning rods to roast marshmallows.
Making something like the statues is perfect .They show why the materials they are made of came to be and they still stand guard over us .
I’ve seen them at Anniston, Talledega, and the most recent one at Camp Perry near my home.
I think it was a fantastic use for a what would otherwise be just scrap metal.
Our Soldier’s , Marines, and other military service members carried these rifles into battle, and trained with them during peacetime.
What a wonderful way to preserve them as a permanent sculpture. Well done!
Beats melting the out-of-spec parts!
Love it, great idea
Real inspiration.
I love it!
Pretty net.
Not sure how these rust buckets honor anyone.
As a veteran and a shooter I think it is fantastic. A memoriam to servicemen of the past.
Honor, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Every piece of these statues has a story that can only be imagined. Stories no less important than than the unknown stories of the rifles that were able to be reclaimed for collectors and competitors. Through these pieces of art those stories live on as a testimony to those soldiers who shouldered them in defense of this nation. What does any work of art mean. The meanings are as diverse as the number of people that view those works of art! Well done!
Mark Valletta
Raleigh NC
CMP Competitor 142396
Perfect “touch”!
Nice idea