Veterans Memorial Dedicated

by Dwight Frady, Mount Holly News
In impressive ceremonies on a hot, muggy day Saturday in Stanley that felt more like the 4th of July, a large crowd came to see the Veterans Memorial dedicated honoring all of the veterans from the Stanley-Alexis area who died for this country in world wars.
The 30x35 foot granite and brick monument is located between the Stanley Post Office off Old Mount Holly Road. Veterans and legionnaires sold about 157 of the 4 by 8 bricks and about 87 or 88 of the 8 by 8 bricks representing approximately 200 veterans.
Veteran and legionnaire John Redder of the Monument Committee made acknowledgments thanking everyone for making it all possible. Stanley Post 266 members and others overcame a lot of governmental red tape in order for the monument to go up.
Legionnaire James R. Williams thanked State Senator James Forrester of Stanley for his work in helping the veterans achieve their goal. In regards to Forrester, he said, "There are politicians and there are statesmen. Politicians look forward to the next election. Statesmen look forward to the next generation. Senator Forrester is a statesman.:
Forrester made brief remarks and introduced the day's chief speaker, former Charlotte mayor and current member of the US Congress, Sue Myrick.
She thanked the Stanley officials for not forgetting those who died to make this country strong. "China is a Communist country with a lot of power and a lot of missile technology," she said. "We can't let down our guard for a moment. Freedom is the most precious thing we have."
Legionnaires Jerry Adams and Mike Self unveiled the granite portion of the monument bearing the names of those Stanley-Lucia men who died in the line of duty in both world wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam war.
The monument also carries the inscription and the seals of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
Robert Cloninger of the Veterans Memorial Committee said that workers are still putting the finishing touches on the monument.