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Remembering our veterans
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| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman People search for bricks bearing the names of loved ones at the new Veterans Memorial on Sunday. More than 300 people attended the ceremony. |
New memorial dedicated at Veterans Park
By LEE BEACH
H&N Staff Writer
"We are reminded these bricks are written in the blood of our warriors… With tears, joy and gifts of thanksgiving, we now dedicate this memorial,” said Maj. Lance McCuiston at the dedication of the new Veterans Memorial on Sunday.
At 11 a.m., Nov. 11, in remembrance of the signing of the Armistice in World War I, “the war to end all wars,” the first Veterans Day observance at the new Veterans Memorial was held in Veterans Park. “This wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for this community,” said McCuiston.
“In 12 weeks, to build this — it’s almost impossible without faith.”
On a sunny but chilled morning, the park was crowded with a few hundred people — veterans, military, families, dignitaries and individuals — who have been visiting and following the construction of the long-anticipated memorial to those who served their country.
Speaker Val Conley, Administrator of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, in her remarks used an oft-quoted message. On the Confederate monument at Arlington Cemetery, an inscription, written by the Episcopal minister and Confederate Army Chaplain, Randolph H. McKim, reads:
“Not for fame or reward; not for place or for rank;
Not lured by ambition or goaded by necessity.
But in simple obedience to duty as they understood it.
These men suffered all; sacrificed all; dared all, and died.”
She called upon those present to “be devoted to the same principles they were, by teaching the history of the country and the role veterans played in it.”
Conley reminded the crowd, “Freedom is not free; it is a gift given to us at great cost.”
Searching for bricks
Before and after the dedication ceremony, people pressed around the perimeter of the bricks, searching. Some were there looking for one brick, some for many.
Raylee Benson, a student at Sage School, was looking for the brick for her step-grandfather, Richard (Harrington) Ruff, who served in the Army in World War II.
Dawnn Brown and Klamath County Commissioner Bill Brown found their bricks, 26 of them, for military members in both of their families. The last brick was laid at 2 p.m. Saturday, and the mortar was still wet.
Nancy Anderson arrived there from the parade with her husband, Philip, a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, her grandchildren and their parents. They purchased six bricks for veterans in their family, one of which was given to Philip Anderson as a birthday gift.
Next generation
With a little reminder to her grandchildren, while waiting for the parade to start, Nancy Anderson asked, Kyden, 4 and Logan, 7: “What should you do when the flag comes by? That’s right, take off your hat and put your hand over your heart.”
She went on to explain: “They’re taught patriotism and respect for the flag at home, and we just remind them here.”
A fledgling group, the High Desert Pipes and Drums, provided the only music for the parade and dedication.
Bagpipers Dan Williams, Dr. Philip Smith and Adrian Mateos, played along the parade route. During the presentation of wreaths at the dedication, Dr. Smith played “Amazing Grace.”
Mateos, a senior international student from Mexico at Oregon Institute of Technology, plans to enter the U.S. Coast Guard this winter.
Keeping tabs
Clem Pine, a veteran of the 351st Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, in World War II, has watched the project with interest.
“I came down here for the groundbreaking, with Ernie Brace speaking. I’d come down periodically to see the progress. These guys would work rain or shine. It’s a wonderful memorial.”
Sherman Hanson, and Cecil Jasso, who recently discovered they were both at Camp White outside of Medford during World War II, met for the first time at the dedication Sunday, after talking on the phone
previously.
“The dedication was very, very touching,” Hanson said.
Like father, like son
Father and son Bill and Richard Gardner of Klamath Falls found satisfaction in seeing the memorial completed. They shared the tradition of being Marines.
Bill Gardner, who served from 1938-1962, was in the Second Marine Division in New Zealand, at D-Day, on Saipan and Tinia. He retired as a captain.
“I’m very happy to see it’s near its completion,” he said. “I think it’s something we should all be proud of.”
His son, Richard, served in Vietnam from 1971-1973, with the 1st Battalion 9th Marines, in Da Nang and the Demilitarized Zone, with a difficult homecoming, so this memorial has special significance.
“I’ve never been happy with unpatriotic people who didn’t appreciate what we did. We serve and protect. I’m really proud of this community — to honor everyone that’s ever served.”
Bricks still available for purchase
A second brick order will be submitted within a few weeks. They can be ordered through the Klamath Falls Parks Department, 226 S. Fifth St., 883-5351. Bricks can be ordered for any veteran anywhere, living or deceased, active or retired, from any branch of service. Cost is $50 per brick.
The memorial has been planned to accommodate 5,000 bricks.
A guide to the placement of bricks is being prepared by the Parks Department, to make it easier to locate individual bricks.
At 11 a.m., Nov. 11, in remembrance of the signing of the Armistice in World War I, “the war to end all wars,” the first Veterans Day observance at the new Veterans Memorial was held in Veterans Park. “This wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for this community,” said McCuiston.
“In 12 weeks, to build this — it’s almost impossible without faith.”
On a sunny but chilled morning, the park was crowded with a few hundred people — veterans, military, families, dignitaries and individuals — who have been visiting and following the construction of the long-anticipated memorial to those who served their country.
Speaker Val Conley, Administrator of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, in her remarks used an oft-quoted message. On the Confederate monument at Arlington Cemetery, an inscription, written by the Episcopal minister and Confederate Army Chaplain, Randolph H. McKim, reads:
“Not for fame or reward; not for place or for rank;
Not lured by ambition or goaded by necessity.
But in simple obedience to duty as they understood it.
These men suffered all; sacrificed all; dared all, and died.”
She called upon those present to “be devoted to the same principles they were, by teaching the history of the country and the role veterans played in it.”
Conley reminded the crowd, “Freedom is not free; it is a gift given to us at great cost.”
Searching for bricks
Before and after the dedication ceremony, people pressed around the perimeter of the bricks, searching. Some were there looking for one brick, some for many.
Raylee Benson, a student at Sage School, was looking for the brick for her step-grandfather, Richard (Harrington) Ruff, who served in the Army in World War II.
Dawnn Brown and Klamath County Commissioner Bill Brown found their bricks, 26 of them, for military members in both of their families. The last brick was laid at 2 p.m. Saturday, and the mortar was still wet.
Nancy Anderson arrived there from the parade with her husband, Philip, a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, her grandchildren and their parents. They purchased six bricks for veterans in their family, one of which was given to Philip Anderson as a birthday gift.
Next generation
With a little reminder to her grandchildren, while waiting for the parade to start, Nancy Anderson asked, Kyden, 4 and Logan, 7: “What should you do when the flag comes by? That’s right, take off your hat and put your hand over your heart.”
She went on to explain: “They’re taught patriotism and respect for the flag at home, and we just remind them here.”
A fledgling group, the High Desert Pipes and Drums, provided the only music for the parade and dedication.
Bagpipers Dan Williams, Dr. Philip Smith and Adrian Mateos, played along the parade route. During the presentation of wreaths at the dedication, Dr. Smith played “Amazing Grace.”
Mateos, a senior international student from Mexico at Oregon Institute of Technology, plans to enter the U.S. Coast Guard this winter.
Keeping tabs
Clem Pine, a veteran of the 351st Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, in World War II, has watched the project with interest.
“I came down here for the groundbreaking, with Ernie Brace speaking. I’d come down periodically to see the progress. These guys would work rain or shine. It’s a wonderful memorial.”
Sherman Hanson, and Cecil Jasso, who recently discovered they were both at Camp White outside of Medford during World War II, met for the first time at the dedication Sunday, after talking on the phone
previously.
“The dedication was very, very touching,” Hanson said.
Like father, like son
Father and son Bill and Richard Gardner of Klamath Falls found satisfaction in seeing the memorial completed. They shared the tradition of being Marines.
Bill Gardner, who served from 1938-1962, was in the Second Marine Division in New Zealand, at D-Day, on Saipan and Tinia. He retired as a captain.
“I’m very happy to see it’s near its completion,” he said. “I think it’s something we should all be proud of.”
His son, Richard, served in Vietnam from 1971-1973, with the 1st Battalion 9th Marines, in Da Nang and the Demilitarized Zone, with a difficult homecoming, so this memorial has special significance.
“I’ve never been happy with unpatriotic people who didn’t appreciate what we did. We serve and protect. I’m really proud of this community — to honor everyone that’s ever served.”
Bricks still available for purchase
A second brick order will be submitted within a few weeks. They can be ordered through the Klamath Falls Parks Department, 226 S. Fifth St., 883-5351. Bricks can be ordered for any veteran anywhere, living or deceased, active or retired, from any branch of service. Cost is $50 per brick.
The memorial has been planned to accommodate 5,000 bricks.
A guide to the placement of bricks is being prepared by the Parks Department, to make it easier to locate individual bricks.
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