ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, June 1, 1996 TAG: 9606030061
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
SEN. JOHN WARNER is on hand as the city dedicates its new stadium and its monument to veterans.
Four days after Memorial Day, the City of Salem honored local military veterans with the unveiling of the Salem Veteran Memorial and the dedication of Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium.
A crowd a couple hundred strong observed the ceremonies Friday that featured a swarm of local dignitaries and U.S. Sen. John Warner.
The monument is a wall of black marble standing approximately seven feet high in the center and approximately 15 feet in length.
Designed by Clinton Scudder, a Salem High School architectural design teacher, the monument is inscribed with the seal of the City of Salem, which is surrounded by insignias of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
Two passages appear in gold letters on the monument. On the left wall is inscribed:
``In peace you serve as our defender
``In battle our protector
``In death a reminder that liberty is still our greatest strength.''
On the right wall reads a dedication to veterans:
``Dedicated in honor of all who serve and have served in the armed forces of our country.''
Along the base the words ``Duty,'' ``Honor'' and ``Country'' are inscribed.
The half-hour ceremony included remarks from retired four-star Gen. William B. Rosson, who recognized many of the veterans in the crowd. The Salem High School band provided selections including ``The Star-Spangled Banner'' and ``Anchors Aweigh.''
Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium was scheduled to open in April 1995, but constructural delays pushed back the opening until August of last year.
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