American Legion Post #60’s Hartwell Wright appeared before the Henderson City Council and was almost apologetic about it, prefacing his request with a comment along the lines of “you’re probably tired of seeing me here.”
But it was Council Member Garry Daeke who spoke up first, making a motion that was seconded by Council Member Michael Venable to approve Wright’s request: permission to purchase and install eight 5-foot long polished granite benches, putting the finishing touches on the newly installed Veterans Memorial on Breckenridge Street outside the Henderson Police Department.
“We’re prepared to order them,” Wright said, keeping good on Post 60’s plan to first create the memorial and then install benches that will provide visitors a comfortable spot to view the monument and reflect on what it represents.
Interim City Manager Kendrick Vann said Kelley Wade Perdue proposed the addition of a POW/MIA flag on the Purple Heart flagpole, recently dedicated in honor of former City Council Member Sara Coffey.
Perdue was not at the Council meeting, Vann said, because she was at the Vance County Board of Commissioners’ meeting making a similar request of county leaders.
In a statement to WIZS News Tuesday, Perdue provided an update on the project.
An event is being planned for Veterans Day – Nov. 11 – to celebrate, honor and recognize Vance County as a POW*MIA County, with the hope that a flag will be permanently displayed at the Veterans Memorial. The ceremony will begin at 8 a.m.
The commissioners approved a resolution presented by Perdue at its Sept. 14 meeting and Friday, Sept. 18, the POW/MIA flag replaced the Purple Heart flag for the National Day of Recognition, Perdue said.
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