On a day to simply say thank you to our fallen soldiers.
One thank you in the Pee Dee extends far past Memorial Day.
“We are in the process of trying move a monument to World War I veterans,” mentioned Barry wingard, volunteer Chairman of the Florence Veteran’s Park
Retired Colonel Barry Wingard along with other volunteers knew they had to do something.
“The wheels started turning about March. Soon as the American Legion got on board with it things started moving pretty quickly,” said Wingard.
For nearly 60 years, the world war one monument has sat behind the American Legion Post in Florence.
Now, parts of the marble have been broken off.
“We think it’s been used as target practice,” Wingard said.
It was originally dedicated in 1928 in front of the old Florence library.
On its bronze plague that was recently removed, are the names of 66 soldiers from Florence County who served in WWI.
It’s a list of “officers”, “white-enlisted” and “colored.”
“It really shocked me and I think it would really shock most people that 25 African American’s gave their lives from Florence County in WWI,” explained Wingard.
However, soon the nearly century year old monument will have a new resting place at the Florence Veteran’s Park.
“When you mention the world war one monument they say what or where? I tell you, it’s just every time we get an additional of this caliber it just enhances the park and the community,” he added.
The bronze plague was removed is being restored by Browns Memorials in Florence.
The monument weighs about 10,000 pounds so the South Carolina Army National Guard is going to come in and help move it.
They expect to have it in place by September 11th, followed by a formal dedication on November 11th.
