Sisters dedicates Veterans Memorial Park

The Sisters Rotary Club celebrated its new Veterans Memorial Park in a big way last Friday, May 26. More than 100 Sisters community members gathered at the park ate the west end of Sisters near Space Age Gas, along with decorated military men, Sisters dignitaries and a perfectly-timed fly over by a U.S Coast Guard airplane. The sun even made an appearance over the crowd gathered near Highway 20 at the west end of town.

The dedication included a speech by a highly decorated World War II veteran. Robert Maxwell earned a Congressional Medal of Honor, two Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts and other honors throughout his service in the Army.

Maxwell urged the gathering to reflect during Memorial Day weekend on what the country and the world would have been like if the United States had not intervened in World War II to defeat Hitler and Tojo and what Iraq would be like if the U.S. had not acted to liberate the country from its ruler.

He asked that those at the ceremony consider the sacrifice made to accomplish these feats.

After the park dedication, Maxwell was on his way to the White House to be honored by President Bush in the country’s Memorial Day observance.

The completed park hosts a “welcome” sign, a plaque honoring veterans, a flag pole and attractive landscaping. The Rotarian who led the effort said the idea for the park began many years ago.

“Wow — it’s been a long time coming but we’re here!” Rotarian Jim Craig told the crowd.

Craig said it took cooperation from many community entities before the small triangle of land could become an attractive park. He said the Oregon Department of Transportation owned about half the land, the Forest Service the other half and the City of Sisters owned the sidewalk.

Craig praised a long list of people for making the park a reality. Businesses donated dirt, plants, irrigation, masonry work and even a flag pole. (See contributors named in The Nugget story, May 24, page 32). The Sisters Garden Club offered advice on the best plants for the park and donated money toward the project. Boy Scout Troop 188 laid the pavers and Sisters Christian Academy will maintain the park.

“You can see we’ve got the whole community involved in this one — it’s pretty fun,” said Craig.

Craig said all 38 Sisters Rotary Club members helped by giving their backbreaking labor or bringing sandwiches to the workers.

“Every one of them pitched in and did something,” said Craig.

Sisters Rotary Club President Mike Bidasolo praised the team effort saying the park began with “vision and imagination” then was accomplished through broad community support. The Sisters Club was awarded first place for a community project by Rotary District 5110, which spreads throughout several Oregon communities.

The plaque at the new park states that it offers “tribute to the Veterans of the Armed Forces and their families…”