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.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Welcome to our online comments feature. To join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address. Once you do, your comments will post automatically. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
July 4, 2008
Veterans Memorial Park, Wall dedicated
- Local News
-
-
‘My war hero friend’
Shell casings fly into the air as members of American Legion Post 112 prepare to fire another round in a 21-gun salute at the funeral of Max Hammontree Thursday. Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen
When the B-17 Superfortress bomber Max Hammontree was flying in caught flak during a mission over Germany and the engines burst into flame, he didn’t know if he’d be able to escape from the top turret where he manned a .50 caliber machine gun.
Continued ... - Poston tapped as new DA for district
- Valley Point Middle overhauls scheduling
- Severe Weather Awareness Week: Flood safety
- Werner Braun: Shopping for new carpet
- Dalton school board meets today
- Feb 9, 2012
- Free DSC concert Sunday features violone
- ‘Go Build Georgia’ tours to talk skilled worker shortage
- DSC professor charged with more child sex abuse counts
- Blevins gets nod as new judge
- ‘My boys lost the only uncle they ever had’
- Commission to decide soon on Dalton, Whitfield merger
- Severe Weather Awareness Week: Lightning safety
- Feb 8, 2012
- Shugart to feature traffic control devices
- Get your blood typed today
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
