Veterans memorial planned for Bear Creek

BEAR CREEK   -  A major fundraiser is being kicked off in Bear Creek just in time for Memorial Day.
Bear Creek Mayor Rob Taylor has announced the town will begin accepting donations toward the construction of a granite or marble monument honoring past and present veterans of the armed forces, the first known monument to be placed in the town honoring veterans.
The monument will be built around the flag pole located in the downtown park just off Highway 13 beside the town’s municipal building, Taylor explained.  The monument will feature the names of past and present veterans from the Bear Creek area who have served in all wars and conflicts.
Based on the amount of donations received, plans are to have a semi-circle monument around the flag pole, with possibly some park benches and landscaping, so people who visit the monument and park can stop, reflect and pay tribute to veterans and their selfless sacrifice.
Taylor noted that the town received inspiration for the veterans project from the veterans memorial in Haleyville.
“It’s important for any American citizen to look back and reflect on the sacrifices that veterans in the past have made for what we have today,” Taylor pointed out.  “If you start forgetting your past, you don’t have much of a future.”
Taylor realized that many towns and communities have monuments honoring veterans, yet Bear Creek does not.
“I would like to have some kind of monument here to honor the folks from Bear Creek who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” Taylor said. “I want to do my part to honor those folks.”
The town may incorporate the flag and flag pole into the monument, the mayor explained.
“We’re trying to get things going to help make this a reality,” Taylor emphasized.
Some local veterans and their families have contacted Taylor, expressing interest in helping with the monument. To do this, funding will be needed, and is being encouraged from not just veterans and their families, but the entire community.  The more donations that are received, the larger and more impressive the monument will be, according to Taylor.
“The sky is the limit,” he said. “Whatever funding we can acquire and get committed to this, that’s where we’re going to go with it.”
Donations can be made toward the monument by calling Bear Creek Town Hall at (205)486-4707 and speaking with Bear Creek Town Clerk Kay Wiginton.