In memory of those who served: Monument raised for war veterans
Cache Valley war veterans now have a memorial honoring their hard work and sacrifices on the Utah State University campus.
The veterans memorial was dedicated Tuesday morning in front of about 250 veterans, members of USU’s ROTC programs and children from valley schools.
Former Utah Rep. Jim Hansen and former USU President George Emert spoke at the dedication.
“I’m honored that I would be given the opportunity to talk about veterans,” Hansen said. “I’m not anywhere near in the category as you folks who have done so much for your country.”
Hansen spoke about his own experiences fighting in the Korean War and said he once asked, “Why am I doing this for Harry Truman anyway?”
He said as he grew up, he became more mature, as many of those who fought in past United States wars had.
One great testament to veterans, Hansen said, is their constant preparedness for anything they were called to do.
“I still think back to my dad making that statement, ‘you were too young for one [war], you’ll be too old for the other,'” he said.
After World War II, Hansen said he quickly found himself fighting in the Korean War.
The former representative said veterans are also great because they stopped at nothing to fight for their cause. He quoted Martin Luther King, Jr. as saying “The person who is not willing to die for a cause is not worthy to live.”
“America is worth dying for,” Hansen said.
Emert delivered the dedicatory remarks for the memorial.
“Since the founding of the U.S., some 48 million Americans have served in our military,” he said. “Less than half of them are alive today.”
Emert said human freedom is something that should be protected, sought and held dear to people’s hearts.
“Of those who are still here who did not pass away in the service, many of you here – you teach, you cut our meats at the grocery store, you drive the trucks, you’re nurses, you go through your life without fanfare,” he said. “These veterans help shape what we are today. They join a long, unbroken line of people that have served in this capacity since the beginning of our nation.”
Prior to the dedication, Emert read the names of some of those who died serving their country. He said he wanted to mention the names because it makes it personal and that showed, as Emert choked up and cried after the first name.
“Thank you for the promise that we have today, promises that we have tomorrow and for all the days beyond that,” he said. “We dedicate this memorial, in their honor, with our collective applause.”
The 3,750-pound monument on the south side of the Spectrum cost more than $30,000. The money was raised from 37 different donors with one donor contributing $10,000 to the monument.
The monument contains the seal of the six areas of the United States Armed Forces and represents veterans from eight decades of major United States conflict.
The words “Honoring and remembering all veterans of American wars for their loyalty, dedication, and courageous service beyond the call,” also are presented on the monument.
“We felt we were doing the right thing [in past wars],” Hansen said. “Are we doing the right thing? I maintain we are.”
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USU Provost Stan L. Albrecht and members of the Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC lay the wreath at the veterans memorial. (Photo by John Zsiray)