Published: July 04, 2008 10:18 pm      

Veterans Memorial Park, Wall dedicated

Charles Sprowl is the only one of the six black Dalton soldiers left to share his memories of D-Day from World War II.

Sprowl’s friend and fellow soldier, Monroe Blackwell, died June 3 at 85. Blackwell and Sprowl served with the 490 Port Battalion, which participated in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944.

Blackwell asked for the July 4 celebration to dedicate the Veterans Memorial Park and Wall, located on Veterans Drive, said Ed Kinney of the American Legion Post 112 of Dalton. The wall has 320 plaques honoring servicemen and servicewomen from Whitfield County.

Sprowl was one of several speakers who talked about their experiences in wars ranging from World War II to the current war in Iraq. Sprowl spoke of the day when the Allied Forces stormed Normandy.

“The sky was full of planes,” Sprowl said. “There were 5,000 ships. The things I’ve seen and heard I will never forget. Yet we had a job to do and we did it. I have no one now to talk about our memories. But someday we will be together again.”

Soldiers are continuing to serve today in Afghanistan and Iraq. Shaun Holmes served as a medic in Afghanistan.

“It’s still hard to think about what we had to do over there,” Holmes said. “I am so thankful for those who served before us.”

Judy McNeeley’s son, Josh, is currently serving his second tour in Iraq. She said she has come to understand the sacrifices of those who have served in the armed forces.

“You are my heroes,” McNeeley said. “None of us can every repay you for what you have done for us.”

The plaques are being completed by D and S Monuments.

“I, for one, take our freedoms for granted,” said Diane Howard of the monument company. “Sometimes I don’t realize what a sacrifice it is for these people.”

The city of Dalton donated the land for the park to the American Legion Post and the VFW. Plans are under way to add a statue to the park.

“They made a beautiful park out of a piece of property that looked like a dump just a few years ago,” Kinney said.