“Band of Brothers” Heroes to Get Statues in Philadelphia

Edward “Babe” Heffron and William “Wild Bill” Guarnere — two World War II heroes from South Philly immortalized in the book and miniseries Band of Brothers — will be honored with bronze statues somewhere in the city.

Heffron’s statue will be near where he grew up, at the Herron Playground at 2nd and Reed streets in South Philly. It will be dedicated next year. Guarnere, who lost a leg in the Battle of the Bulge, will get a statue likely near the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Philadelphia Korean War Memorial in Center City. Family and friends of the two men raised the money for these statues separately.

Heffron’s statue will show him as a young man, while Guarnere’s statue will show him as an older war veteran, after he lost his leg.

“It’s harder to pick out someone who has been more honorable,” sculptor Chad Fisher, who is doing Guarnere’s statue, told the Inquirer. “If you’re going to memorialize someone, you want it to be in bronze.” Heffron’s statue is being made by sculptor Terry Jones. The statues are both slated to go up next year.

Heffron died last year, while Guarnere died earlier this year. Both men were 90. Read Philly Mag’s 2001 profile of the duo. 

[Inquirer]