Memorial Dedication 7/6 at

As the Rev. Marion Ford addressed the crowd of people at Veterans Memorial Plaza on Sunday, the Fourth of July, he reminded them that celebrating our country’s freedom should be an everyday event.

“I hope you appreciate the freedom that we have in this land today,” Ford said. “Celebration of the Declaration of Independence should be an everyday practice.”

The event was held Sunday to dedicate the Veterans Memorial Wall at the Veterans Memorial Plaza located in Carbondale. Approximately 150 people attended the afternoon event, which was held by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2605.

Cpl. Joshua Lipe, a Carbondale resident who was injured while fighting in Iraq, said he agreed with Ford that celebrating our country’s freedom and remembering the soldiers who have fought and continue to fight should take place more than once a year.

“It’s not just a one day thing. Patriotism is something that continues on all throughout the year,” Lipe said. “It’s something that doesn’t have to be at the forefront of your mind all the time, but if you’re of the praying type, pray once in a while for our guys over there ’cause the more prayers, the better.”

According to VFW Post 2605 Senior Vice Commander David Conrad, the idea for the memorial wall came about when former Mayor Neil Dillard received a letter from a committee of the U.S. Department of Defense. The letter asked communities across the country to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Korean War.

Being a veteran of the Korean War, Conrad received the letter, which he then took to the VFW.

“We decided that, yeah, we would like to do something, but [we acknowledged] there was also other wars,” Conrad said.

With plans to commemorate veterans of all of the wars throughout the 20th century, members of the VFW also saw the need to bring more attention to the Veterans Memorial Plaza and the existing memorial. The previous memorial pays tribute to servicemen who have died in action during 20th century wars.

“We already had a monument that was done several years earlier,” Conrad said. “And this park had been given the name of Veterans Memorial Plaza, but nobody knew it was here.”

According to Conrad, VFW member Bob O’Daniell came up with the idea to create a sign for the park. With the help of Carbondale Main Street, the 18-foot-wide, 3 1/2-foot-tall rock wall was designed.

According to Conrad, VFW member Jim Dunken came up with the wall’s design. On the corner of Washington and Main streets, the memorial wall shows the name of the park and honors those who have served in the past wars of the 20th century. Four of the plaques honor those who served in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. A plaque honoring those serving in the war in Iraq will be added later.

After the idea was approved by Mayor Brad Cole, VFW members began raising money for the monument. Conrad said some of the donations came from businesses, but individuals and organizations donated most.

“We started raising money, and that was easy,” Conrad said. “People wanted to help.”

Conrad said the Lions Club, Kiwanis Club and Rotary Club all made donations, and Carbondale Main Street donated $8,200 as well. Conrad said Carbondale Main Street also planted all the flowers and the landscape in the park.

Conrad said he is pleased with the results of the wall and hopes people will make the trip to visit the park to remember the men and women who have served their country.

“I just want to thank people for supporting us and urge them to come out and look it over,” Conrad said.