The Eyes of Freedom with ‘Silent Battle’ to be on display at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - The Eyes of Freedom with ‘Silent Battle’ will be on display at the LSU Huey P. Long Field House in Baton Rouge March 4 - 8, 2024, hosted by the LSU William A. Brookshire Military & Veterans Student Center, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education.

What: LSU Military Appreciation Week

Where: Huey P. Long Field House - Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA 

When: March 4 – March 8, 2024 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. (closes 3 p.m. Friday)

Details: The Eyes of Freedom will be on display for LSU students, staff, faculty and visitors to the campus.

The Eyes of Freedom was born out of the Lima Company Memorial that was a tribute to the 22 Marines and 1 Navy Corpsman that were killed in Iraq in 2005. One of the largest casualties from one single unit from either Gulf Wars. The Eyes of Freedom travels the country to honor the service and sacrifice of all who answer our Nation’s call. The memorial includes life sized portraits of the fallen of Lima Company whose eyes reflect the thousands of men and women who have offered their lives in service to our country.

‘Silent Battle’, a sculpture by Anita Miller, was created after witnessing first-hand the struggles of our returning combat veterans coping with post-traumatic stress and the loss of their brothers and sisters in combat and at home. Survivor guilt, grief, and trauma often run deeper than words. Art reaches the recess of the heart and creates the connections that can break the cycle of pain. ‘Silent Battle’ initiates the tough conversations about veteran PTS with the purpose of supporting our veterans and making sure their voices are heard. Not only can you view ‘Silent Battle’, but we encourage viewers to complete a dog tag in memory of a veteran or someone they have lost to PTS, to place on the sculpture. The Eyes of Freedom is honored to be hosted by the Veterans Services Center at Louisiana State University and the Wounded Warrior Project on behalf of their Veteran students. The Veterans Resource Center at LSU provides assistance to veterans and their dependents that may be eligible for various veteran educational benefits and helps transition veterans from the military to civilian life within the academic environment. The Wounded Warrior Projects mission strives to ensure that when those who serve come home, they’re afforded every opportunity to be as successful as a civilian as they were in the military.

On Wednesday, March 6, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Jason Teed, author of the book, Warriors: Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005 3rd Plt Alpha Co 4th AAV 3/25 Lima Co, will host a book signing in the Huey P. Long Field House ballroom where the exhibit will be housed.

We look forward to sharing The Eyes of Freedom and ‘Silent Battle’ with the students, faculty and veterans at LSU and the greater Baton Rouge community.

To view parking information for the LSU campus, please visit the Parking and Transportation website. We recommend the Union Square Parking Garage. Visitors will take a short walk past the Union, Quad, and Campus Mounds to the Huey P. Long Field House.