When Lawrence artist and sculptor Barry Coffin was approached three years ago about creating a memorial tribute to American Indian mothers of war veterans, he knew almost immediately what he wanted to do.

“I really liked the idea, and as soon as they told me an idea came into my mind of what I would like it to look like,” said Coffin, himself an American Indian.

Austin, a worker at Ad Astra Bronze Foundry, warms up the bronze sculpture, which will take on a patina as heat is applied.

The result was a bronze sculpture that will be dedicated May 13 during a ceremony at Haskell Indian Nations University. The War Mothers Memorial will be placed on a landscaped area surrounding the Haskell Cultural Center and Museum.

The 6-foot, 250-pound sculpture depicts an American Indian woman with her extended hands clasped in prayer. She is wearing a headband, and fastened on each side of her are two eagle feathers attached to medallions representing the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.

Coffin was living in Taos, N.M., when representatives from the Haskell Veterans Club contacted him about making the memorial. He first made a clay sculpture of the War Mother, which has been on display for the past year in the museum. The clay form was then used to make the bronze sculpture.

“It’s a sculpture form, but it is unique to my own style,” Coffin said. “You want to do a really good job because people are going to see it. I just tried to do something that would please the most people possible.”

Although called the War Mother, the memorial is not only intended to honor mothers who have lost sons and daughters during war, it also recognizes mothers of any military veterans, representatives of the Veterans Club said.

The idea for the memorial originated a few years ago with students, said Charles Hawkins, a member of the Veterans Club.

Alan Austin, of Lawrence, assists artist Barry Coffin as they wipe down War

“Once the talking started we thought it was a good idea,” Hawkins said. “Traditionally native American tribes have war mother groups, like the VFW has auxiliaries. This (memorial) is probably kind of a spin-off of that perspective.”

Although the dedication ceremony won’t take place until next month, sometime this week the sculpture will be put in place, Hawkins said. When the ceremony takes place, local veterans groups along with American Indian veteran groups from throughout the Midwest will be invited to attend, he said. An invitation also will be extended to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

A photo detail of the sculpture shows medallions for the Navy and Air Force.

In the future a wall will be constructed as a backdrop to the sculpture. The wall will be inlaid with tiled replications of the official flags of the military service branches.

The Veterans Club has conducted ongoing fund-raising efforts to pay the $30,000 cost of the memorial. Donations have come from proceeds from Kansas University basketball and football game concession sales, glass etching sales at Indian markets, campus powwows and the campus gift shop. About $10,000 still needs to be raised, Hawkins said.

Anyone wanting to contribute to the memorial fund can send donations to Haskell Veterans Club, Haskell Indian Nations University, 155 Indian Ave., room 5004, Lawrence, 66046.