OREM — Leah Johnson always prayed for this day to come. She just hoped she would be around long enough to see it.
After multiple surgeries, Johnson finally witnessed the fruits of her own labors. After fighting for nine years, Orem finally has a veterans memorial.
"Can you believe it? I'm just on cloud nine," said Johnson, chair of the Heritage Advisory Commission and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary. "I had actually prayed that God would let me live long enough for this day. It's here, and I'm so excited and so pleased."
About 500 people gathered to dedicate Orem's new Veterans' Memorial, located at the Orem City Cemetery, 1520 N. 800 East. The $84,000 memorial features six flag poles, one for the American Flag and one for each branch of the armed forces.
A statue depicting a wounded soldier in the arms of a nurse, sculpted by Orem resident Leroy Transfield, is the focal point of the memorial. Inscribed below the statue is the solemn reminder, "In honor of veterans of all wars, 'Lest we forget.' "
"It is so gratifying to see something that brings everyone together," Mayor Jerry Washburn said. "You think about the veterans that are here today. That just brings tears to your eyes to see them."
Sen. Bob Bennett and 3rd District Rep. Chris Cannon spoke at the memorial dedication. A tearful Bennett reminded citizens that Americans fight for peace and freedom, regardless of who the benefactors might be.
"The best summary we can have is from a statement of our current president when he said, 'Liberty is not America's gift to the world. Liberty is God's gift to humankind,' " Bennett said, quoting President Bush. "It is . . . America's lot to protect God's gift for all of human kind. We honor those today who gave the ultimate sacrifice in that task."
Original estimates for the memorial reached nearly $300,000, a number far too high for the city to fund, Johnson said. But city employees found a way to cut costs and bring a memorial to Orem.
"We were worried about costs when something miraculous happened," Washburn said, referring to the volunteer effort by city employees that drastically reduced costs. "It was a spontaneous effort. It became an emotional experience for them. They were working very lovingly on their own time and on city time."
Washburn called the united effort a "leap of faith willed into existence by the determination of a few." Councilman Les Campbell said Johnson is one of those with the determination to finally build a memorial in Orem.
"If it weren't for Leah Johnson, this never would have happened," Campbell said.
Surrounded by thankful residents, Johnson smiles as she reflects on the time spent bringing the long-awaited memorial to Orem.
"Dreams come true if you wait long enough."
E-MAIL: ldethman@desnews.com