Base

On 12 April 2011, a 53,000 lbs. granite block donated by Jet Mist Quarry was loaded for transport to Elberton, Georgia where it will be shaped into the monument base. The color guard from Culpeper’s VFW Post 2524 provided honors.

The base upon which Homage will stand is a block of black granite donated by Jet Mist Quarry of Rapidan, VA. Found & Sons Funeral Home of Culpeper has been contracted to shape, polish, and engrave the stone. The five feet tall base is six feet square at the bottom tapering to four feet tall at the top.

The base front will feature the outline shape of Culpeper County within which will be listed the names of local servicemen killed in World War Two and Korea. The right side (as viewed from the front) will feature the obverse face of World War II Victory Medal along with a quote from President Truman’s address following Japan’s official surrender. The left side (as viewed from the front) will feature the obverse face of the Korean Service Medal and an excerpt from President Eisenhower’s address following the signing of the Korean Armistice. The base rear will feature the service seals of the six major services to participate in the conflicts (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine) as well as an excerpt from President Roosevelt’s prayer to the nation, delivered over the radio on the evening of 6 June 1944.

Base Quotations

“. . . With special feelings of sorrow—and of solemn gratitude—we think of those who were called to lay down their lives in that far-off land to prove once again that only courage and sacrifice can keep freedom alive upon the earth.” President Eisenhower announcing the signing of the Korean Armistice, 27 July 1953

“. . . Our first thoughts, of course—thoughts of gratefulness and deep obligation—go out to those of our loved ones who have given their lives so that this day of ultimate victory might come and assure the survival of a civilized world.” President Truman following the signing of Japan’s official surrender, 1 September 1945

“Almighty God - Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity . . . For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest, they fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They but yearn for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home . . . Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.“ From President Roosevelt’s D-Day prayer to the nation, 6 June 1944