(AP) — A Navy dog handler from South Sioux City, Neb. will be honored on Memorial Day with a statue of him and his dog.

The statue of John Douangdara (dwung-DEHR’-ah) will be unveiled in a ceremony on Monday.

Petty Officer 1st Class Douangdara was among 30 Americans killed when a military helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan in August 2011. He was a Navy Special Warfare member who handled a dog, Bart, for the Navy SEALS. The dog also died in the crash.

Artist Susan Bahary says she hopes the statue provides comfort to Douangdara’s friends and family.

The statue shows Douangdara with his right hand holding a gun over his heart and his left hand on Bart.