Stroud Area Veterans Monument

Stroud Area veterans Monument is located at the corner of North 2nd Avenue and Main Street route 66 in Stroud’s Ed. Smalley Centennial Park. The three vertical gray slabs of granite monuments to those men and women from the area who served their country. A large brick area is in front to the monuments with names of many who contributed to building the memorial. The first gray granite has etched a draped flag and reads as follows: "Stroud Area Veterans Monument/In Honor of Those Who Served The United States of America in War and Peace." Five seals of the branches of military are below Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Beneath the seals are the words: "Since The First Men Left The Stroud Area in 1898 To Defend Their Country, Until the Present Day, Our People Have Been Proud of the 1300 Young Men and Women Who Have Served in the Armed Fores. This Land is a Better Place Because of the Sacrifices They Made." Below these words are words from Churchill which reads: "'Not in Vain May Be The Pride of Those Who Survived and the Eitaph of Those Who Fell." "Dedicated December 10, 1999" On the back of the first monument are the words: "Memorial Sponsored by American Legion Post No. 257, Stroud American Legion Auxiliary, Stroud Historic Neighborhood Assn. and the names of the Memorial Committee (7) and area contributors. The second or center gray granite monument has an eagle etched at the top with a serviceman kneeling in prayer and below that are the words: "In the Shadow of Liberty There Are Many Benefits of Freedom For Us All, but, They are Protected at a Cost of Great Personal Tragedy." The last or third gray granite monument has an etched draped flag and quotes from John 15:13: "Greater Love Has No Man Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends." Below the scripture: "Carved On This Granite, As In Our Hearts, Are The Names of Our Stroud Area Veterans Who Were Killed In Action While Serving The United States of America." Beneath that: World War I (7 names) World War II (18 names) Korea (1 name) Vietnam (6 names)