Yellowknife (Aug 11/06) - The veteran's memorial statue, which graces the lawn in front of the downtown Department of National Defence building, has been fixed, reinforced and painted.

The heel of the middle soldier in the Veteran's Memorial Statue was recently repaired. Vandals smashed the statue, earlier this year. - Emily Watkins/NNSL photo

The artist, Eli Nasogaluak, arrived back in town this past week and set to work on fixing the damaged statue.

"He reinforced the heel of the soldier," says Lloyd Lush, President of the Royal Canadian Legion in Yellowknife.

"And he also painted the base a real nice colour that makes the statue stand out."

Nasogaluak, a world renowned sculptor from the Beaufort Delta, painted it a dark brown to not only highlight the statue, but also to protect the cement base from the weather throughout the year.

"I'm glad he's back and has gotten right to it and fixed it," Lush says.

"I think the statue will be just fine now that we've got everyone looking out for us."

The cost to fix the statue remains undisclosed by the Legion and the artist.

The heel of the middle soldier in the statue in on Veteran's Way was smashed sometime in June.

It was discovered by Nasogaluak when he had stopped by to show the statue to a friend.

Police said the time of the incident was undetermined and there were no suspects.