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An improbable statue in Crawford, Texas

At first it seemed like an improbable idea -- a statue to honor the son of the anti-war movement's most iconic figure in President's Bush's adopted hometown of Crawford, Texas.

"I had probably five or six heart attacks in a two-second period!" recounts Bill Johnson when first hearing of F. Emmett Snell's plan to erect a memorial to Casey Sheehan, fallen soldier in Iraq and son of anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan.

It was over the Easter weekend. Crawford resident and business owner Johnson - a staunch supporter of the President - had just shown Snell his property, which abuts the Bush ranch.  Stuck in traffic slowed by the presence of anti-war activists connected to Ms. Sheehan, Snell hopped out of Johnson's pickup to talk with some protesters.    At that moment, Snell concedes Johnson thought he was "a little weird maybe," when he wanted to greet the Code Pink and other activists.  When they greeted him and thanked him for joining them, Snell quipped to them "Well, I may be the enemy!"

Frank Snell, the Chairman of a Christian media network -- Life Media Network International -- says he supports the President but doesn't necessarily agree with his decision to go to war in Iraq.   And while he respects the right to protest, he doesn't agree with the "stance" of Cindy Sheehan and the other Crawford activists.   

Of the President, Snell says "The man does what he says when he's gonna do and he stands his ground.  He doesn't wishy washy around.   And he's not a quitter.  And that's one thing I appreciate about him even though I may not fully agree with his approach."    And he adds, "to undermine the [President's Iraq] effort at this point I think is real close to treason."

It was when he was back in Johnson's pickup truck that he came up with the idea of trying to build "harmony" amidst the divisiveness of the Sheehan and Bush camps by creating a memorial to the service and sacrifice of Casey Sheehan.   

But the memorial won't be on the ranch say both Johnson and Snell. In fact, Snell says he most likely wouldn't invite Cindy Sheehan to the ranch.    Laughing, he notes "she might not go through security!" referring to the secret service checkpoints outside the President's nearby ranch.

Snell does, however, want Cindy Sheehan's approval for the bronze likeness of her son Casey to go up somewhere in the town of Crawford.   He says he has not heard back from her yet.

Snell, who says he offered Johnson twice his asking price for the ranch, had a contract with Johnson to purchase his property later the same day, even after sharing his idea about the memorial.   And the price?   According to Snell, Johnson wouldn't accept double and decided to lower the original price in the end.

And Johnson has now joined Snell's "American Patriots of Honor Foundation" which plans to build the memorial to Casey Sheehan AND ultimately honor others.

Johnson says he is confident of Snell's heart and intentions, and believes he has avoided what would have been the "worst" scenario: "someone for political purposes to acquire that land to harm the President in what he is doing.   And his peace.    When he comes here [to Crawford], he needs some peace."

While the President's "peace" in Crawford may be not be endangered by this memorial, it could help Snell toward his goal to "try and bring peace."    

But it seems one part of Snell's ultimate vision for the memorial dream is not likely to materialize.  "What I would love to happen would be for, at the dedication of the memorial that she [Cindy Sheehan] and President Bush would both be there to dedicate the memorial.  That would please me wonderfully," he said.   

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