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Beach Park is located in north Springfield, bordered by Douglas
Avenue on the east and between Calhoun and Hovey Streets. In its
northwest portion, there proudly stands a handsome brown granite
monument. Guarded by large trees and kept company by the 1930's
pavilion, the monument gives silent testimony to the valor of the
Springfield casualties of World War I. On the south side of the
monument is a marker with text reading as follows:
"IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF SPRINGFIELD WHO DIED IN SERVICE IN
THE WORLD WAR IN THE CAUSE OF LIBERTY. ERECTED BY BUSINESS WOMEN'S
CLUB, KIWANIS CLUB, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, LIONS CLUB, ROTARY
CLUB, AND UNIVERSITY CLUB."
The effort to prepare the monument had been spearheaded by Dr.
E. M. Shepard, Professor of Geology at Drury College, and 1924 president
of the University Club. On November 12, 1924 -- the 6th anniversary
of the signing of the armistice of the Great War -- more than one
thousand men, women and children gathered in the park to celebrate
the event and dedicate the monument. Included were veterans of the
Civil War, the Spanish American War and the recent World War.
At 11:00 a.m., the ceremonies began at the stone obelisk. Captain
John Crockett, chaplain of the American Legion Post, gave the opening
prayer. Major J. L. Heckenlively explained the significance of the
occasion. During the playing of the national anthem, the monument
was unveiled by Captain Harry D. Durst, Spanish American War veteran
and later mayor of Springfield. He spoke of the spirit of brotherly
love which should come out of the war experience. He deplored ethnic
and racial prejudices and stressed the importance of tolerance.
Finally, taps was sounded and the ceremony ended under the direction
of Captain Lewis Eslick of the National Guard.
The following names are inscribed on the monument:
| 1. W. A. ANDERSON |
2. L. ATKINS |
3. H. F. BALLINGER |
| 4. F. BROCKHORST |
5. R. BRANSON |
6. F. BRAZEAL |
| 7. H. M. BROWN |
8. J. C. PATRICK |
9. W. CANTRELL |
| 10. W. R. CONKLIN |
11. F. S. DAKE |
12. M. G. DAY |
| 13. J. DRYDEN |
14. R. DURHAM |
15. A. FERGUSON |
| 16. H. C. FOWLER |
17. D. GANER |
18. A. L. GLIDEWELL |
| 19. J. M. GOAD |
20. J. A. GOODWIN |
21. H. E. GRAFTON |
| 22. F. GRIFFITH |
23. L. W. HAINLINE |
24. D. M. HANSELL |
| 25. W. E. HAYWARD |
26. W. HOYLE |
27. E. F. IRBY |
| 28. R. W. JAY |
29. J. W. JEWELL |
30. M. C. JOHNSTON |
| 31. H. L. JONES |
32. J. E. KERMICK |
33. R. LAMB |
| 34. I. LILE |
35. O. McPHERSON |
36. C. R. MARTIN |
| 37. H. N. MARTIN |
38. C. D. MAYERS |
39. C. R. MIZZEL |
| 40. T. E. NEE |
41. A. O'BRIEN |
42. J. H. PALMER |
| 43. M. E. PATTERSON |
44. D. PYETT |
45. C. PYLES |
| 46. P. E. RICHARDSON |
47. L. A. ROBINSON |
48. A. SAUERWEIN, JR. |
| 49. J. SAWYER |
50. G. SCHAEFFER |
51. J. A. SCOTT |
| 52. W. E. SHERIDAN |
53. J. L. SQUIBB |
54. W. H. TIMMONS |
| 55. C. L. THOMPSON |
56. C. A. WAGNER, JR. |
57. A. T. WALSH |
| 58. L. T. WASSON |
59. E. H. WEAVER |
60. W. H. WILBY, JR. |
| 61. C. J. WILLIS |
62. L. W. WILSON |
63. C. BROCK |
| 64. P. S. KILLINGSWORTH |
65. C. T. FINDAY |
66. W. E. CLINGAN |
--Prepared by Jesse Wade
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