Perry Historic Preservation unveils soldier statues for Veterans Day

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Figures representing four branches of the U.S. armed forces, from left, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, were recently purchased for Violet Hill cemetery in Perry by the Perry Historic Preservation Commission. The statues will eventually adorn the planned reconstruction of the monument in the Grand Army of the Republic circle at Violet Hill.

Perry Historic Preservation Commission members, from left, Jeanette Peddicord, John Palmer and Gary Martin temporarily placed for soldier statues at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry. Each soldier represents a branch of the U.S. armed forces.
Perry Historic Preservation Commission members, from left, Jeanette Peddicord, John Palmer and Gary Martin were instrumental in the commission’s recent purchase of four military figures for placement at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry. The figures represent, from left, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force.

 

soldier-closeup-koWith Friday’s Veterans Day ceremonies in view, the Perry Historic Preservation Commission gave temporary quarter Monday morning to four statues of soldiers representing branches of the U.S. armed services.

The historic commission purchased the figures just in time for Veterans Day, judging them suitable for permanent installation in Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry, which holds the remains of 1,176 veterans of the U.S. wars.

Perry Historic Preservation Commission Chairperson Jeanette Peddicord said she learned about the military statues from a friend.

“I saw them in an email,” Peddicord said Monday, “and I showed them to my husband, who is ex-Navy. So we went up and bought one for our own yard.”

Once she showed them to fellow Perry Historic Preservation Commission members John Palmer and Gary Martin, it was agreed to bring before the full commission the idea of purchasing four of the figures for placement at Violet Hill.

"Perry's Memory Lane" is the Perry Historic Preservation Commission's latest research project. The 210-page book sells for $25, and all proceeds support the commission's activities.
“Perry’s Memory Lane” is the Perry Historic Preservation Commission’s latest research project. The 210-page book sells for $25, and all proceeds support the commission’s activities.

The commissioners liked the idea, and the statues were bought using funds raised through the commission’s sale of historical calendars and books. No city funds went toward the purchase, according to Martin.

The four statues, weighing about 160 pounds each and standing about 42 inches tall, represent four branches of the armed services: the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. The figures were bought at a retail price of about $250 each at the lawn and garden section of the Boone Hy-Vee, Peddicord said.

“Now we need to get them painted,” Palmer said. He said the commission hopes eventually to see the figures placed permanently on a rebuilt concrete base supporting the memorial obelisk in the Grand Army of the Republic Redfield Post section of Violet Hill.

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