Greer County Veterans Park

A major project of the Granite American Legion Post 177 has been the Veterans’ Memorial Park in the 600 block of North Main Street in Granite, Oklahoma. Granite markers at the park display the names of local veterans who served in each of the military operations in which America has been engaged, beginning with World War I, and continuing to the present time. At the center of the park are two statues, a soldier and a sailor, of World War I vintage. The center red granite polished monolith has an American flag draped over the top. On the face depicts 23 members of the armed forces who paid the ultimate price, their lives, in defense of our nation. In the area in front of the center red granite monolith is large horizontal marker engraved on both sides and reads: THOSE WHO GALLANTLY SERVED It lists 140 names for World War I, and 103 names for World War II on one side. There are 236 names for World War II on the other side. The plaques on the two bases of the Doughboy and the Sailor were dedicated on May 30, 1929 and contain a continuous engraved message providing the following more descriptive information: Under the Doughboy: THESE BRONZE STATUES WERE FIRST CREATED BY E. M. VIQUESNEY FROM INDIANA AT A TOTAL COST OF $2500 FOR THE TWO. THE STATUES WERE REMOVED FROM THE KIOWA/GREER CO. BRIDGE IN THE 60’S BECAUSE OF SEVERE MUTILATION AND WERE STORED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF REINHART GRAUMANN. A GRANT WAS RECEIVED FROM AID ASSOCIATIONS FOR LUTHERANS, AND THE GRANITE COMMUNITY CONTRACTED JAMES A. PITT, SCULPTOR, TO RESTORE THIS WORLD WAR I BRONZE DOUGHBOY AND SAILOR AT THE TOTAL COST OF $6000. THIS BRONZE DOUGHBOY IS HEREBY REDEDICATED TO THOSE WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR I. NOV. 10, 1979 Under the sailor: GOVERNOR HOLLOWAY WAS TO PRESIDE AT THE DEDICATION SERVICES OF THESE STATUES MAY 30TH, 1929, BUT BECAUSE OF MUDDY ROADS IN UNION CITY, DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE CEREMONY. REV. MOODY NICHOLSAN, VICE-COMMANDER IN CHARGE OF THE AMERICAN LEGION THEN PRESENTED THE MEMORIAL ADDRESS. THIS BRONZE SAILOR IS HEREBY REDEDICATED TO THOSE WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR I. NOV. 10, 1979