Honoring a Hero – Thaddeus Stevens’ Legacy Cast in Bronze
- Alex Paul Loza
- Aug 12
- 3 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Dear Friends and Collectors,
Monday, August 11th marked the 157th anniversary of the passing of a fearless and transformative American statesman Thaddeus Stevens (1792–1868). Born into modest circumstances, Stevens rose from poverty to become a towering force in Congress, wielding words like weapons in the fight for freedom. He once declared, “Men in pursuit of justice must never despair.” It is a call that still challenges us to stand firm, to labor without rest, and to never surrender when equality is at stake.
Stevens was a passionate and unflinching champion for human rights. In Congress from 1849 until his death, he opposed the spread of slavery into the western territories, fought for its abolition, and - both publicly and in secret - helped enslaved people find freedom through the Underground Railroad. After the Civil War, he was a driving force behind the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, ending slavery, guaranteeing birthright citizenship, and securing voting rights for African American men, supported the women's suffrage and publicly endorsed the right of women to vote and hold public office.
Commissioned in late 2019, the Thaddeus Stevens Society entrusted me with the extraordinary honor of sculpting his first life-size public monument after a nationwide search. This bronze tribute, titled Men In Pursuit of Justice Must Never Despair, was unveiled on April 2, 2022, on the eve of Stevens’ 230th birthday, in front of the historic Adams County Courthouse in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
The dedication ceremony was a stirring affair: hundreds filled the sidewalks, Civil War reenactors and the 46th Pennsylvania Brass Band brought history to life, and moving speeches were delivered by Gettysburg’s Mayor Rita Frealing, Council President Wes Heyser, Adams County Commissioner Randy Phiel, major donor Michael Charney, and Ross Hetrick, the President of the Thaddeus Stevens Society. State Representatives from neighboring states, historians, tourists, and citizens joined the celebration. The Adams County Board of Commissioners even proclaimed April 2, 2022, as “Thaddeus Stevens Statue Dedication Day.”
This monument marked the first public sculpture in Gettysburg and only the second nationwide to honor Stevens—and the first by a Latino artist. His resolve is immortalized in bronze: his right hand is clenched tightly around the 14th Amendment, holding it close to his heart, while his body weight rests on his left club foot - an enduring symbol of strength and resilience. His head and eyes are looking straight ahead, ready to face any challenge, while his head tilts to the right, embodying his constant attentiveness to the needs and voices of the people. His coat billows in the wind, a symbol of the forces he withstood and the relentless pursuit of his ideals. Installed at ground level, the statue signifies that Stevens was one of us, a reminder that we, too, can aspire for greatness and make a lasting impact on history.
The story of Stevens’ monument was carried far beyond Gettysburg—covered by local and national news outlets, and even featured in Smithsonian Magazine’s December 2023 issue, ensuring his courage would inspire audiences nationwide.
When Stevens died in 1868, thousands came to mourn. He lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda, with African American soldiers who had fought in the Civil War serving as his honor guard. His epitaph, which he composed himself, remains a lasting testament to his moral mission:
“I repose in this quiet and secluded spot, not from any natural preference for solitude. But finding other cemeteries limited as to race by charter rules, I have chosen this that I might illustrate in my death the principles which I advocated through a long life: Equality of Man before his Creator."
This sculpture is a clarion call to remembrance, a tribute to a hero whose courage helped reshape American ideals. As I worked, I thought often about what it means to create a piece that will outlast us both—artist and viewer alike. It is more than preserving history—it is keeping a spark of courage alive for generations yet to come.
May Stevens’ life remind us that a single voice, steadfast and unyielding, can bend the moral arc toward justice. And may his words echo in our own time: “Men in pursuit of justice must never despair.”
With heartfelt gratitude,
Alex Paul Loza
Monumental Sculptor
CEO, Alex Paul Loza Art, LLC
