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...Looking up at the tall stone pillar, names of soldiers etched into a plaque on the face, Bob Cescutti feels a sense of pride.
As well he should. Three generations of Cescutti men have worked on it to honor Lindale soldiers who died in service to their country in World War I, World War II and Korea.
Click here to see a video from the monument dedication.
“My father built that thing,” he said. “I was 15 years old.”
About 60 years ago he spent time out of school to help his father, Ettore Cescutti, build the pillar — and now he and his sons Robert and David Cescutti, along with his brother Ronald Cescutti helped to refinish it.
A tone of anger touches his voice as he speaks of the extent of disrepair the monument had fallen into in the past.
“There were two trees (growing) there at the top — we had to pull them out,” said Cescutti.
It was this pri
This monument honoring soldiers from Lindale who died in World War I and World War II is at the intersection of Maple Road and Legions Drive. (Ryan Smith / Rome News-Tribune) |
de and a story he read about a couple from Holland that visited Rome a few years ago that inspired him to make sure the monument was kept up.
“They had been keeping American soldiers’ graves in Holland since 1945 because they were appreciative of the sacrifice — that they gave their lives for their country.”
Cescutti attempted to find support to have the monument restored or even moved.
VFW member Charles Lee “took the bull by the horns,” and the VFW took over the care of the monument.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4911 rededicated the monument, originally erected in 1948, in Lindale on Friday morning.
“We will not play taps nor say a prayer as this is a monument that our fallen comrades would be proud of, and it puts a smile on their faces as they look down upon us today,” said Post 4911 commander Alan Smith.
Thanks were also given to Jack Morgan for donating the land to the VFW and Wayne Casey who was instrumental in the repairs.
Many people and businesses donated their time in the restoration of the monument, said Smith.
Three Rivers Nursery and the Ladies Auxiliary to Post 4911 provided landscaping. Turf Grass of America donated sod and Lowe’s, Evans Ace Hardware of Lindale and Silver Creek Pharmacy provided discounts or donations. Henderson & Sons Funeral Homes provided a tent for the ceremony.
