Veterans' sacrifices become more visible in Elgin

ELGIN, Oct 19, 2009 (The Observer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- MEVR | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Fifty-seven years have passed since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first men to scale Mount Everest.

Fifty-seven years have also passed since Elgin's Veterans of Foreign Wars memorial was first dedicated on Alder Street. Elgin's memorial, in contrast to Mount Everest, gradually faded into the shadows, standing largely forgotten at a relatively obscure site for years.

Today, though, the memorial's supporters should feel like they are on top of the world.

The memorial has been moved to a far more visible site at Clarence Witty Park and is dramatically enhanced. The relocated memorial was dedicated at a ceremony Saturday afternoon conducted by Union's High Valley VFW Post 4060. Elgin area veterans were saluted by Bob Levesque, commander of the High Valley VFW Post at Saturday's ceremony.

"May their deeds live on forever,' Levesque said.

Saturday's ceremony was the culmination of a yearlong project led in part by Christy Piercey, president of the Elgin Chamber of Commerce. Piercey said she had been disheartened to see how the memorial, installed by Elgin's old Indian Valley VFW Post, was disappearing from the public's consciousness. Piercey said it was meaningful only to individuals who had been in Elgin long enough to know the story of its origin.

To those who did not know the memorial's history "... it seemed to have been something out of place along the sidewalk downtown,' Piercey said at Saturday's dedication.

Today the relocated memorial is not out of place but rather a striking centerpiece of Clarence Witty Park. Its original commemorative marble memorial and flag pole are complemented by two semicircular stone benches, a brick paver stone foundation and three sunken well lights. The lights are allowing the memorial's flag to fly at night.

It is a far cry from the site of the old memorial, Piercey said. Noting that she is the proud daughter of an American veteran, Piercey said she could not stand to watch Elgin's VFW memorial fade into oblivion.

She and others in the community thus put together a "recovery mission' with a single objective: "to bring this memorial and our American flag back to a prominent and respectful location in our community. This memorial should be a reminder to all of us of the sacrifice and pride with which our service men and women have given to all of us and are still giving today.'

Sacrifices made by veterans were also addressed by State Rep. Greg Smith, R-Dist. 57, at Saturday's ceremony. Smith spoke of his great uncle, Thomas Albert Gillen, who served in the U.S. military during World War II and was in a Japanese prisoner of war camp for several years on Wake Island during this time.

Gillen had entered the military as a strapping man at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. Upon his return home Gillen weighed just over 130 pounds, Smith said.

"I can't imagine any greater sacrifice than serving your country. ... It takes such a significant emotional, physical and intellectual toll,' Smith said.

The concluding remarks at Saturday's ceremony were presented by Levesque following a flag-raising ceremony. He addressed the significance of our nation's colors.

"The flag is the symbol of all that is sacred to us,' Levesque said. "If reflects what we are and what we hope to be.'

In speaking of the flag he encouraged people to remember that the white stripes represent purity of purpose; the red stripes courage and our willingness to die if necessary for American ideals; and the blue represents the tranquility upon which our states are united "to hold intact all that is truly ours."

The High Valley VFW Post Levesque represents takes in Elgin, Union, North Powder and Cove. Elgin's veterans joined it after the Indian Valley VFW Post disbanded many years ago.

The memorial relocation project was completed three weeks ago and cost $3,500. Sponsors of it included the Elgin Chamber of Commerce, the Elgin Lions, the Elgin Women's Service Club, Elgin EDGE, W.C. Construction, Indian Valley Properties, Nancy Crawford of Elgin, EONL Nursery and the city of Elgin. The city of Elgin's contribution was spearheaded by Public Works Director R.L. Christian, who dug up the memorial stone and its flag pole and transported them to Clarence Witty Park, where he installed both.

Additional landscaping work will later be done at the new memorial site and a retaining wall will be put in. Much of the site will be illuminated at night by the three well lights that will remain on throughout each evening through sunrise, Piercey said.

"This memorial represents the fact that Elgin, Oregon, is proud of its veterans in such a way that those who visit our community or travel through on this highway (by Witty Park) know that day or night our veterans are appreciated, they are recognized and they are always in our hearts,' Piercey said.

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