For veterans, long-awaited day arrives

Glencairn Garden memorial ready for Friday's unveiling

By Matt Garfield - mgarfield@heraldonline.com

After years of waiting, Rock Hill's veterans have a place to honor their fallen comrades.

A veterans garden will be unveiled Friday at Glencairn Garden in a ceremony expected to attract hundreds of past and present service members.

The 10 a.m. program features an honor guard, bagpipers, military bands and speeches by local and state dignitaries, including S.C. Adjutant General Stan Spears.

Workers rushed to finish construction in time for Veterans Day, culminating an effort that started several years ago.

“It's been a long time coming,” said Gary Cowley, commander of American Legion Post 34 on Cherry Road. “This is a great thing for Rock Hill. Everybody will come from miles around to see this.”

The garden pays timely tribute to local World War II veterans, especially those too frail to travel to a national memorial in Washington, D.C.

World War II produced an estimated 3 million veterans. Nationwide, they are dying at a rate of about 1,000 per day, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“We've done way too many funerals this year,” said U.S. Navy veteran Paul Shaffer, captain of the local VFW honor guard.

One of Rock Hill's best-known World War II veterans will take part in the ceremony. Pearl Harbor survivor L.C. Rice fires rifles as a member of the honor guard, which performs at funerals and veterans functions.

A home at Glencairn

City leaders first endorsed the idea of such a memorial about five years ago, as plans took shape for an expansion of Glencairn, a city park on Charlotte Avenue.

The garden is part of a $1.6 million improvement phase that also included a new cascade fountain, tent plaza overlook and bridge.

Service members aren't the only group that will gain from the city's first public memorial, said Shaffer. Children also are an important audience.

“The kids coming up, they need to see the sacrifices that veterans have made,” he said. “They'll be able to understand, this is what we do.”