The first step after securing the statue in February 2026 was to register it and insure it. This process took longer than expected and it wasn’t until May 2026 that we were able to move the statue to the location where we could begin the restoration process. We want to give a big thank you to the Shenandoah Valley Academy for the permission to use a portion of their building for the restoration process.

The hydraulics on the trailer also needed an overhaul, which was taken care of all thanks to the dedicated work of Dustin Grimm.

By October, the final touches of paint were being applied, and the statue was sealed against the elements—just in time for our first event in Washington, DC.