Fighting back tears, Mayor Lavar McMillan remembered many of his high school classmates who died during World War II.
Wendell Watts was one of them. "He and I were in the same class. We were sort of rivals . . . even though he was my best buddy," McMillan said. The two were roommates at Utah State University and both even chose to get married on the same night.When the war came, McMillan was sent to Europe and Watts went to Japan. Watts was killed during his first day of battle when he received a direct hit from a mortar shell.
Nearly a quarter of a century has passed, but Murray's World War II veterans are finally being honored. A memorial to those who lost their lives fighting for freedom during the war was dedicated Saturday at Murray Park.
"I hope that those who came to the park to visit or to sit and meditate will remember those who gave their lives for the cause of freedom in World War II," said McMillan, who conceived the idea for the monument.
As a WWII veteran himself, McMillan praised the men who have "never really been recognized for the service and sacrifices they performed. Although it's been many years, we must keep alive the memory of those great battles," he said.
Kenneth Wright, who was the keynote speaker at the dedication, said today's young people are reaping the harvest of what war veterans have sown.
"Our children don't have to flee to an embassy in the middle of the night to seek freedom . . . and don't face down tanks in a town square . . . Our young people today live in a land of peace and we pray it will ever be that way."
Wright said it is unfortunate that many of today's veterans have poor access to health care and are often forgotten by family and friends. "America has a debt of honor to her veterans," he said. "No other single group of Americans has done more for this country than veterans, yet they are (facing) many disadvantages."
Murray's memorial is set in the center of a newly planted tree grove, which contains benches for people to sit and reflect. A Roman sundial is perched atop a column, set on a large base.
City officials have compiled a list containing more than 40 names of people who may have died as a result of WWII. When the city is confident it has a complete list of names, it will mount them on a plaque, McMillan said.