COLUMBUS, Ohio — Throughout the last 12 months, Joe F. Howard said he has been focused on one thing.

What You Need To Know

  • Joe F. Howard is an artist in Columbus, Ohio

  • Howard was commissioned by The Fuller Story Project to sculpt a bronze monument memorializing African-American Civil War Union soldiers

  • The monument will be unveiled Oct. 23 in Franklin, Tennessee

"I titled it 'March to Freedom' and it's just to know that these guys sacrificed their lives so that, well people like myself would have an opportunity to be able to do the things I do today," Howard said.

He considers himself a life-long artist, known mostly for his paintings and drawings, but it was sculpting where Howard said he hoped to leave his mark.

And he received the chance to do just that. Howard was commissioned by The Fuller Story Project in Franklin, Tennessee to create a bronze monument memorializing African American Civil War Union Army soldiers.

At one point, Howard even worked out of his dining room in order to keep the temperature just right to mold his pieces.

The statue weighs more than 400 pounds and was first sculpted by Howard and then sent to Coopermill Bronzeworks in Zanesville to be cast in bronze.

Josh Becker is the foundry manager.

"This stuff will outlive you. It will outlive me. It will be around, essentially forever," Becker said.

According to the National Archives, roughly 180,000 Black men served as soldiers in the Civil War.

"March to Freedom" was unveiled Saturday, Oct. 23 in Franklin, Tennessee. 

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