Updated numbers from the U-S Department of Defense show 897 Americans have died while serving in Afghanistan since the war there started in late 2001.

As for the Iraq War, the Department of Defense says 4,269 American soldiers have died from March 2003 through today.

One of those killed in the Iraq War was local hero Robb Rolfing.

He died while serving in Iraq more than 2 years ago.
Soon, his memory and his sacrifice will be honored with a statue in Sioux Falls.

Soccer field 11 at Sioux Falls' Yankton Trail Park.
Robb Rolfing loved playing soccer here and his dad Rex...loved his son. "He thought it was wrong that people could get into our country and do to the twin towers what they did."

It was the actions of terrorists on 9/11 that prompted Robb Rolfing to enlist in the military.
He became one of the best, an elite soldier, assigned to special forces which placed him in danger, in harms way and ended his life at just 29 years of age.
We asked Rex what words come to mind when we thinks about his son: "Dedication, sacrifice."

And it's that sacrifice that Rex Rolfing wanted to honor, not only for his fallen son but for every solider who lost their life to protect ours.
Just days before Robb died, Rex saw a small version of this statue called "Going Home", an angel taking a soldier to heaven.
One is positioned on Robb's grave and thanks to some cooperative work with Sioux Falls Parks and Rec, a larger version will be placed in the city's Veterans Memorial Park on November 7th. "We're just so excited that's gonna happen."

It will be a sign of respect for Robb Rolfing and so many others.
It will be years of work that a loving father has done on behalf of his son.

The Rolfing memorial statue will be unveiled November 7th at Veterans Memorial Park in Sioux Falls.
It honors Robb Rolfing's life and the lives of all veterans who have given of themselves.

2009 KSFY Action News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.