Veterans honored as long-awaited monument dedicated in Laurens

Laurens, South Carolina – Dexter Sharp had already lifted the Marine Corps flag during Monday’s Veterans Day Ceremony outside the Laurens County Library Monday morning when he later stood with James Richard at the United States Marine Corps monument.

The tall granite structure had just been unveiled and the two Marines had just met, drawn to the Corps which connects them.

“We’re like magnets. We come together,” Richard said, smiling, of his fellow Marine Corps veterans.

Designed to honor veterans for their sacrifices across the globe, the program provided a place for veterans to connect, as men and women in hats, jackets or uniforms representing almost all the branches of the military gathered in small clusters and with their families for the 10 a.m. program.

This year, however, the county-wide gathering was also celebrating the opening and unveiling of the long-awaited Laurens County Veterans Monument and Memorial Park, made possible through the Capital Project Sales Tax which was passed by referendum in 2020.

“This dedication marks a historic moment for Laurens County,” said Laurens Mayor Nathan Senn, recounting the many monuments throughout the county which represent veterans and those lost in various conflicts throughout the nation’s history. “They all have had their days like this, where we have taken time set aside to recognize the importance of the veterans who fought and died in defense of their home. We emphasize that these monuments are not just stones. They’re symbols of our gratitude and reminders of their courage and sacrifice.”

The new veterans memorial park is unique, however, Senn explained.

“This monument where we’re standing this morning is the first county-wide recognition of all of our veterans’ service and, personally, I believe that recognition is long overdue,” Senn added. “This is a county monument. This represents the service and sacrifice of veterans from all across Laurens County, and the contributions and love that we as a community feel for our veterans, and that is embodied here in the brick and mortar.”

Located in what had been an open lawn of the Laurens County Library’s main branch at 1017 West Main, Laurens, flags and monuments encircle a large fountain. In addition to those representing the nation, the state and the POW/MIA flag, veterans raised flags for each of the six branches of the military during the Armed Forces Medley. Those include Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Space Force, which was added in 2019.

County Council Chairman Brown Patterson thanked the people of Laurens County who voted to approve the Capital Project Sales Task and made the project possible.

“I’m excited that we’re finally able to present this beautiful park to everyone in Laurens County, especially our veterans,” Patterson said.

“A lot of work went into putting this together, and I hope this monument will bring knowledge to the young folks of our community as they go past it to school every day and visit this library. I would like to thank the committee for all they did to design these beautiful monuments that we have here today. I’d also like to thank one of our own, Andy Howard, and his crew with the Parks and Recreation Department. Andy is a Marine Corps veterans and with his staff, they really were the boots on the ground.”

Former County Administrator Ernie Segars said the initial committee that began working on the plan many years ago were veterans active in the Laurens County Hall of Heroes, and at the time included the late King Dixon, who was a leading proponent of the project.

“Also James “Buck” Buchanan, Claude Vaughn, Tom Arnold and the late Joe Nixon,” Segars added. “Over the years most of us stepped down to make way for new committee members.”

These new committee members have refined the details and made it a monument park that honors all veterans.

“I had no idea it would be this beautiful,” Segars said. “The committee has worked hard and done an excellent job and it really is spectacular.”

Combat veteran and District 42 Rep. Doug Gilliam commended all veterans for the work they have done to defend the nation.

“That is what we are called to do: To protect and defend our nation and our citizens,” Gilliam said. “Every veteran has that in his or her heart. So no matter where you were, at multiple deployments, even in our own country, when people  would see that uniform, they respected it, and they still do today.

“No matter what branch of the military you are in,” Gilliam said. “The job’s hard, it’s dirty, it’s grimy, but it’s also lethal, and that’s what we have to have to win wars and defend our nation.”