By Jennifer Moody
Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Sunday, November 11, 2007 12:00 am
So far, the new veterans memorial at Timber-Linn Park is a concrete pavilion bordered by flagpoles and brick planters and surrounded by a handful of unfinished brick monuments.
Nevertheless, said organizers of Saturday's dedication, it is hallowed ground.
"This memorial honors Linn County veterans who have given their lives in service of liberty, of freedom," Jim Willis, the director of the Department of Oregon Veterans Affairs, told more than 300 people who gathered at the park Saturday for the dedication.
"It marks a place of reverence, of quiet, and of freedom," he said. "It also marks a place of high honor."
Saturday's dedication began with a flyover of a biplane, two experimental aircraft and an AT-6 Texan, used to train fighter pilots.
The American Legion Post 10 Color Guard formally retired the American flag that had flown over the previous war memorial at the park, then raised a new American flag and POW-MIA flag as bugler Pat Johnson played "To the Colors."
Rosalind Howard, retired Navy chief petty officer, sang "The Star Spangled Banner."
Next, members of the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine hoisted their respective flags while Willis read the creed and played a recording of the anthem for each.
Spectators whistled, applauded and shouted, "Ooo-rah!" as, one at a time, the flags for each branch of the service glided slowly skyward.
"My husband, being a Merchant Marine, they have not been recognized very much," said Karen Montoya of Scio, whose husband, Ben, hoisted the Merchant Marine flag with fellow serviceman Ed Lingenfield. "Having his flag raised was a terrific honor. It brought tears to my eyes, and I'm sure it did his as well."
The Montoyas plan to visit the memorial often, she said. "Knowing it's here - to come here from time to time - it's a wonderful thing."
Work is continuing on the memorial, which occupies an acre and a half laid out in the shape of the state. Landscaping comes next, and more donor-name bricks are being sold for the outer monuments.
Granite pieces with the names of those killed or missing in action are to be placed in a meditation garden inside the perimeter of the memorial.
"This is really nice. Gorgeous place," said Francis Rowan of Grants Pass, president of the Oregon State Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Said Garner Pool, chairman of the Linn County Veterans Memorial Association: "Now we've got something we can grow with in times to come, something we can be proud of."