I REALLY HOPE THIS STORY IS TRUE

Because it is wonderful.

This picture of the statue below was made by an Iraqi artist named Kalat, who for years was forced by Saddam Hussein to make the many hundreds of bronze busts of Saddam that dotted Baghdad.

This artist was so grateful that the Americans liberated his country, he melted 3 of the fallen Saddam heads and made a memorial statue dedicated to the American soldiers and their fallen comrades. Kalat worked on this night and day for several months.

To the left of the kneeling soldier is a small Iraqi girl giving the soldier comfort as he mourns the loss of his comrade in arms.

It is currently on display outside the palace that is now home to the 4th Infantry division. It will eventually be shipped and shown at the memorial museum in Fort Hood, Texas.

You may not quite be able to make it out, but the mass on the right edge of the photo includes the boots, inverted weapon with a kevlar helmet atop...the traditional memorial displayed at a service for a fallen soldier.

(Thanks to reader Beth for sending this in.)