The statue by artist Dexter Benedict depicts service men and women carrying Lady Liberty.

Statue of Liberty Lifted by Soldiers

Dade City, Florida

An unusual patriotic sculpture was unveiled on Veteran's Day in 2010 on the campus of St. Leo University. Officially titled "For Those Who Serve," the 2-ton bronze depicts a representative member from each branch of US military service holding aloft a strutting Lady Liberty. It's like a confidently crowd-surfing Lady Gaga, only this gal holds the Torch of Freedom 22-ft. above Dempsey Plaza, in the St. Leo Student Community Center Complex.

New York sculptor Dexter Benedict spent two years creating the work, intended to show the strong connection between the school and military service. It's somehow perfect for a college campus not conflicted about its heritage of graduates serving in the armed forces. But it includes a nod to underclass antics -- perhaps they are about to toss her through a basketball hoop for a YouTube video!

The group carrying Lady Liberty appear to be heading toward a seated, robed figure -- St. Leo himself. The Saint gestures approvingly at the procession, as if to say "You go, you crazy kids!"