LAKE GENEVA, Wis.— A new sculpture is being unveiled this weekend in Lake Geneva.

The American Legion Auxiliary in Lake Geneva worked alongside a local artist to put together a metal sculpture to honor veterans.

Metal work is a fun hobby for John Larkin.  It’s a hobby, extending back 10 years. He’s pretty good at what he does, so when he was contacted to make a special sculpture for the city to enjoy he couldn’t say no.

“It’s been a very humbling project to work on this and the very first poppy I welded onto the platform I got teary eyed. Each time I've added one, it’s very impactful for me, which is one of the reasons I am doing it. Because our veterans need to be honored and I am doing the very best I can to do that,” Fireball Metal Works owner, John Larkin says.

He’s created an eight foot tall sculpture with 13 poppy flowers, that represent each stripe on the American flag. The sculpture is a project with the American Legion auxiliary in Lake Geneva and will sit in Library Park for everyone to enjoy.

“We want people to understand where it came from— what it means. The veterans that gave their lives for us to be standing here for your freedom. It’s a big deal,” American Legion auxiliary of Lake Geneva, Mary Schlehlein says.

Their hope is that this big, beautiful, handcrafted work of art will remind others of the sacrifice veterans made for our freedom. So as the finishing touches are done, it’s emotional knowing what these flowers stand for.

If you take a closer look you will see inside is a hidden gem, John hopes many will notice.

“Down here I have an authentic World War I dough boy helmet. The concept is, it represents a fallen soldier and the poppy’s are holding it up a bit,” Larkin says.

Every little detail holds meaning and signifies the sacrifices our veterans gave for our freedom. For more information on the sculpture and how to donate to veterans, click here.