Saturday morning presented an impressive site to behold at Columbia City Park. The Veterans Monument was dedicated, and there were more than 700 people in attendance of the celebration.
Before and after the ceremony, family members slowly meandered through the plaza looking for their relative’s name on purchased brick pavers in the plaza. Cellphones were used not to talk but to take pictures of the incredible creation of Legion Square, the name of the plaza.
Sen. Angela Hill, R-Picayune, who attended the dedication, said she thought both the creation and dedication of the monument were wonderful.
“I think it is beautiful. I absolutely love it,” Hill said.
State Rep. Ken Morgan, R-Morgantown, had nothing but great things to say about the monument before the dedication.
“I think this is one of the best things that has ever happened in Marion County. When you pay homage to a bunch of veterans, you are speaking up for them. The way this country is going right now, that’s the very least anybody can do is show a little respect,” Morgan said.
American Legion Horatio W. Rankin Post 90 Commander Bill Harris welcomed everyone to the ceremony Saturday. During his introduction, Harris said everyone in attendance had something in common: A love of country and a love for the veterans. Harris specifically recognized the veterans from the different eras for serving.
“There has never been a time when we have not had men and women step forward to stem the growth of aggression around the nations by dictators and evildoers,” Harris said.
Harris commended Marion County as being a place for veterans. He said that the number of veterans who live in the county compared to its population is about 9.6%. Nationally, the average is less than 1%.
“You live in a county full of patriotic people who are willing to serve,” Harris said.
In recognition of the veterans, Harris also commended those who served even though they did not face combat. He said they still took the oath, went through basic training and could have been subject to harm’s way.
“We are all soldiers at heart. Everybody who has taken that oath was willing to step forward and put themselves in harm’s way. The members of American Legion Post 90 decided in 2020 to commemorate our 100th anniversary by making a gift to all veterans and their families. This monument is our gift to you,” Harris said.
Harris also spoke about the design and location being set across the street from Columbia High School.
“Teenagers racing to adulthood, we must continue to teach Americanism, patriotism and service,” Harris said.
He then spoke of Rankin, who the post is named after. Rankin died in World War I and is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France. A history buff, Pat Carter, approached members of the post about transporting soil from Rankin’s home place to France where Rankin is buried. Harris said Ted Wilks and Leo DeOrnellas researched at the courthouse and found where Rankin’s home place was near the Hub Community. So soil was collected from Rankin’s home place and added to the soil where Rankin is buried in France. Carter returned from France, where he went for the 70th anniversary of D-Day, with soil from where Rankin is buried. That soil is buried beneath the plaza and has a special marker on top of it, marking the story.
Rankin was the first American causality from Marion County in World War I.
Brenna Holder, constituent liaison for Congressman Steven Palazzo, SFC U.S. Army, retired, presented the post with a U.S. flag that flew over the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., in honor of the monument's dedication.
Second Vice Commander Wilks shared a couple of stories of some people whose names are on the pavers in the plaza. The first story was about a man who became a causality before war was even declared. Seaman Volmer Dowin White, a Kokomo resident, was killed on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, on the U.S.S. Arizona, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. White is still entombed on the U.S.S. Arizona, which rests at the bottom of Pearl Harbor.
Wilks also shared the story of J.B. Ivy, who joined the service in 1939. Ivy was stationed in the Philippines on April 9, 1942, when the troops there had to surrender to the Japanese. Ivy and the others became prisoners of war and took part in “the worst in history,” the Bataan Death March. Prisoners were forced to drink water from mud puddles, and if someone attempted to escape, the escapee and the escapee’s friends would be killed. Ivy, who is buried in the Society Hill Cemetery, spent three years, four months in a Japanese prison camp before being set free. He came home, reenlisted and served another 14 years in the military before retiring.
The keynote speaker at the dedication was Bobby Cook, Champlain of the American Legion Department of Mississippi. Cook spoke of the importance of God in the country and said despite the current state, the United States is still the greatest nation.
Cook reminded the crowd that more than 1 million men and women gave their lives throughout the country’s history to provide the freedoms people now enjoy.
“It is good to gather together on days like this to celebrate the birth of a great nation,” he said.
Cook said it is important to remember those who have died in freedom’s name and keep their memories alive, not only through pavers and monuments, but also by people’s undying determination in fighting for freedom.
After Cook spoke, Harris once again took the podium to dedicate the monument officially.
“We dedicate this monument in a perpetual reminder of those who have honorably served our nation at the sacrifice of their families. We dedicate ourselves to duty, honor and country,” Harris said.
Deejay Don King served as the master of ceremony.
Steven Simmons, Chaplain of the American Legion Post 90, provided the invocation, and the Rev. Erzeal Davis, chaplain of VFW Post 5393, the benediction.
Tim Davis concluded the ceremony with the emotionally charged song, “Proud to be an American.”
Special music was also provided by Gracie Jones, who sang the National Anthem, and the First United Methodist Church Quartet, featuring Edward Hough, Cass Barnes, Mark Fite and Hal Kittrell.
"The first time they came to us about the monument, we thought it was a great idea,” Mayor Justin McKenzie said. “To know the amount of time and effort that the American Legion members have spent on raising funds and collecting the information and even the thought process is to be commended. On behalf of the entire city, we are very thankful to play even a small part in allowing them to have it here. We are honored to have it here in City Park, and I hope that for years and years, people will come to enjoy it.”
“I think it is beautiful,” Harris said after the dedication. “The hand of God was on this thing because we faced so many challenges. There was always a way.”
Harris credited Carol Durham, curator of the Marion County Historical Museum and Archives, with helping him fine tune the design for the monument. He said she worked very hard in helping creating in the monument.
Harris was thrilled with the turnout. It was a reminder that people still love their country and its veterans who have served. He said it is important that they are honored.
“I think we did that today,” he said.
