Amidst the hustle and bustle of 30th Street Station stands a silent sentinel. It is the Angel of the Resurrection War memorial. This monument honors the 1,307 Pennsylvania Railroad employees who perished in World War II.
The Pennsylvania Railroad World War II Memorial is more than just a statue. It is a place for reflection. It is a reminder of sacrifice. The memorial stands on the main concourse of 30th Street Station.
Walker Hancock designed this heroic bronze sculpture. He named it Angel of the Resurrection. The angel, Michael the Archangel, lifts a lifeless soldier. He is freeing him from the flames of battle. Hancock served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was one of the Monuments Men. They recovered art looted by the Nazis.
The monument is vertically striking. This design was inspired by the station’s tall Corinthian columns. Sunlight streams through the windows. It creates a dramatic silhouette in the morning.
The Angel of the Resurrection stands 28 feet tall. It sits on an 11-foot black-granite base. Two inscriptions are on the base. Four bronze plaques list the 1,307 names. These names are in alphabetical order. The inscriptions read. They say “In memory of the men and women of the Pennsylvania Railroad who laid down their lives for our country 1941–1945” and “That all travelers here may remember those of the Pennsylvania Railroad who did not return from the Second World War.”
The memorial was dedicated on August 10, 1952. General Omar Bradley spoke at the ceremony. Robert E. Laws unveiled it. He was a Pennsylvania Railroad employee. He was also a Medal of Honor recipient.
Walker Hancock considered this memorial his favorite work. He also created three angels for the Lorraine American Cemetery in France. Poet Robert Frost admired the Angel of the Resurrection. Hancock also created the statue of John Paul Jones. It is at the William M. Reilly Memorial.
Many people recognize the sculpture. It appeared in the film Witness. Hancock’s one-third-scale plaster model is in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
As you stand before the Angel of the Resurrection War memorial remember its message. The Pennsylvania Railroad employees gave everything for their country. Their names are etched in bronze. This memorial ensures they are never forgotten. The Angel of the Resurrection stands tall. It offers hope amid the echoes of war.