It was also one of the reasons he decided to monumentalize the statue this season with the informational bronze plaque.

"When I figured out what it was I thought, ‘This is pretty cool,' but I didn't have any information about its origins," Graves said.

He gradually learned the details of the statue's conception and was impressed with its historical significance.

At the end of most work days, Graves skis past the statue on the way back to his office at the mountain's base. While making the journey he frequently passed groups of skiers congregated around the statue and overheard them wondering out loud about its genesis. So, he took to reciting an oral history for anyone who cared to listen.

"It is somewhat unusual to have a big statue of Christ on the mountain without some sort of way to provide information about why it is there," Graves said. "So I'd give a sort of verbal history, but it was never as complete as the story the plaque tells. I think it is a cool and unusual part of the mountain's history and we wanted to preserve that."

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Graves attributes the statue's installation to the efforts of the Knights of Columbus at St. Matthew's parish in Kalispell, some of whose early members served in World War II.