All Wars Memorial, Sheraden: 649 Hillsboro Street
If you’re traveling along Chartiers Avenue through Sheraden, chances are you’ve caught a glimpse of the massive school building set high upon a hill. Constructed in the 1920s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it commands attention, so it’s easy to overlook the nearby All Wars Memorial Park.
The “park” is two monuments separated by a narrow parking lot. The larger is located at the corner of Hillsboro and has a clean and simple design. Installed in 1956, the artist’s name is not listed on the descriptive marker. Someone designed the piece, but why they weren’t recognized is unclear.
The second monument, dedicated to those who served in World War I, requires a scramble over a low retaining wall to see it close up. If you’re not that nebby, standing in the parking lot will do you just fine. 😉 Also featuring a simple and somber design, a curious message is engraved along the bottom edge: “The name plates taken from the original Roll of Honor are imbedded in this monument.” Another case of unknown names.
This troubles me a bit. As a living, breathing person, I find something meaningful about seeing the names of people no longer with us; it’s a way of forging a connection despite the passage of time. When names are removed, they are more easily forgotten. And then, that personal connection between years ago and right now becomes lost to us forever.
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