By Allen Hamrick
Many years the original Clay County Courthouse has stood the test of time on its hill overlooking the town. It holds many records associated with Clay’s rich history. Over the years there has been a memorial at the base of the hill in honor of the veterans of the county to commemorate their sacrifice and duty served for this great nation. The cannon that used to serve as a monument was taken away, and the memorial became nothing but a notch in the hill. Trees, brush and trash accumulated, and it fell to ruin like a third world country.
In came Joe Lanham with his dream of erecting a memorial for all veterans of the county. Others became dedicated to the idea, and the new memorial was born on paper and the money needed was raised. Fifteen years have passed and that idea has become a reality. In those 15 years, few hands have done most of the work as the project got underway. It has been a monumental chore of raising money, getting volunteers to help, making numerous phone calls and setting deadlines for contractors to get the job done. The light at the end of the tunnel can now be seen by the originators of the project. As you go through town now, you can see the project is nearly finished.
This past week a mountain of veterans and their families, along with other volunteers ascended on the memorial and gave it a much-needed shave. The long-standing Courthouse Goatee, as some call it, is gone and a new wrought iron fence will take its place, All the ducks are lining up for the memorial and it is projected to be finished prior to this year’s Apple Festival.
This memorial has been a labor of love and honor for Joe Lanham and friends, and it is a memorial that the people of this county can and should be proud of. Thanks to Joe there will be a long-lasting monument to the unyielding will of Clay Countians to protect and preserve our rights as American citizens. Thanks to all the veterans and their families who showed up and to the Appalachian Service Project workers who came in and offered their strong backs and muscles to help cut the mustache. This is a good thing for our county and its people; may we never take the sacrifices for granted.
