The soldier was on guard for 20 years, standing watch above the awning of Callahan’s Tavern on West Chester Pike in Upper Darby.

Then, one day, he was gone, writes Victor Fiorillo for phillymag.com.

The iconic statue belongs to the same Irish bar that inspired the Upper Darby-based comedy, “Last Call.”

Sadly, he didn’t survive 70 mph winds in the early morning of Christmas Day 2020.

“An Upper Darby cop found him lying on the sidewalk on Christmas morning, all broken up in pieces,” says tavern owner Jack Callahan. “And he put it right into the back of my truck because he knew exactly where it came from.”

Callahan had bought the soldier in the first half of 2001 in an antique/furniture store coming back from the Jersey Shore.

The soldier started his watch in the corner of the bar, But after the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, Callahan wanted the soldier visible to everyone as a tribute to the country and those who lost their lives.

So he went above the bar and became an Upper Darby landmark.

When he disappeared, people noticed, and mourned.

A mechanic friend of Callahan’s fixed the broken soldier.

Last week, it was finished and restored to his former, rightful place.

Callahan plans a rededication Memorial Day.

Read more at phillymag.com about Upper Darby’s statue soldier.