The Shadow
IRON GATE — With Burnside Carpenter Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4299 assisting, the town of Iron Gate held a Flag Pole Dedication Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park Friday, to commemorate Pearl Harbor Day.
“On behalf of the citizens of the town of Iron Gate, I welcome you to the first phase of Iron Gate’s Vet-erans Park,” said Mayor Chuck Unroe as he opened the ceremony.
“This has been in the works for a long time and it’s just now coming into fruition,” added Unroe.
The mayor explained that other plans would be taking shape in the coming months. They include adding monuments and plaques to the park, which sits across the street from the former Hilltop Market.
“It’s a great time to be a little town in the Alleghany Highlands and I’m proud of it,” said Unroe as he handed the ceremony over to the VFW.
The ceremony coincided with the 77th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941.
Jim Rhodes led the group in the flag and flag pole dedication. A prayer followed from Chaplin Thomas McHenry.
“We honor those who gave their lives in Pearl Harbor,” said Rhodes, as he resumed the program in honor of Pearl Harbor Day.
“Remember the men and women serving around the world. Their service will not be forgotten,” added Rhodes.
“Seventy-seven years ago today. Never forget,” said Rhodes. “This is both a day of remembrance and a call to action.”
McHenry then read a poem, titled “All Is Well.”
The ceremony closed with Richard Erskine playing Taps as the veterans and those in attendance saluted the flag.
