|
|
|
|
|
The Cow Creek Tribe of Umpqua Indians are a major contributor to the Canyonville, Oregon War Memorial.
Volunteering time during their lunch break, Rick Massato, left, and Tony Rogers work on a flower bed behind a memorial for veterans in front of Canyonville City Hall. The memorial is being built by volunteers and was the idea of Canyonville veterans Chuck Mauldin and Mayor Chuck Spindel. Massato and Rogers work for Canyonville Public Works.
By Paul Craig
CANYONVILLE -- What began as a simple idea between two friends has turned into a community monument recognizing hundreds.
Volunteers have worked tirelessly since July constructing a memorial in front of Canyonville City Hall to recognize and honor south Douglas County residents from every branch of the military.
"It doesn't matter when they were in or where they served -- just any veteran," said Canyonville Mayor Chuck Spindel.
Veterans of Foreign Wars members Spindel and Chuck Mauldin had a conversation last February about various monuments and memorials throughout the United States. They took the idea of building one in Canyonville to the VFW and it was approved.
With the group's support, Spindel hoped to make a unique, if not modest, tribute wall.
"What we originally thought was just a short, curved wall -- until we found out how many names we had," he said.
Originally thinking around 150 names would grace the wall, Spindel was caught off guard by the number of people who came forward for themselves or relatives. Over 420 names, shimmering on a bronze backing, will line the memorial wall when it is dedicated in a ceremony on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
"Most (memorials) deal with a specific time and place," he said. "We wanted to build one that recognized all servicemen and women."
The recognition will continue as long as there are south county vets whose names don't adorn the wall. Spindel said names will continually be added, in one way or another, and he even has a list of about 20 names that won't be included until after the dedication.
"Somehow, we don't know how yet, but we will get everyone," he said. "We won't slight anyone."
Along with the names, a plaque will sit near the wall's top and a newly constructed flower planter will rest at its base. New, brighter lights will be installed to illuminate freshly donated American, Oregon and VFW flags.
Every last brick, drop of cement and hour worked has been donated. The total cost of the project will be around $30,000, plus countless hours of labor -- all of which came from the community.
Major contributions came from The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Canyonville Chamber of Commerce and the city council. Private residents and businesses also helped out.
Mauldin was one of several volunteers who personally went door-to-door in town to elicit support from the business community. The support was easy to come by, as it turned out.
"They hit every business downtown," Spindel said. "They weren't turned down by anybody."
Mauldin said all the businesses and the people around town openly accepted the idea. He said the community already has an ever-present sense of patriotism, but now, with the memorial, there is a clear way of showing it.
"You walk down the street with your head high looking at people and you feel really proud because they've supported it so well," he said.
Eventually, Spindel would like to see benches placed near the memorial and possibly a second wall, if the names continue to pour in.
"As of now, we have more than enough room for names," he said. "But, I can see four, five, six years down the road having to put up another one."
For now, however, with construction nearly complete, the focus is on the dedication ceremony, which begins at 11 a.m. Nov. 11. State Rep. Susan Morgan, among others, will speak and American and Oregon flags that each flew over the State Capitol in Salem will be presented.
If the weather cooperates, an F-15 Fighter Plane will also fly over the ceremony to coincide with the singing of the national anthem.
"There's been a lot of people involved with this," Spindel said. "It's just been great. They've just backed it 100 percent."
<<< Giving by the Cow Creek Tribe >>>