DENISON DEDICATES EISENHOWER VETERAN MEMORIAL
by Allen Rich
February 23, 2011

The 16-foot-tall statue of the 34th U.S. President towered over the crowd much the same way Denison native Dwight D. Eisenhower towers in mid-20th Century world history.

                                 

It seemed only fitting that veterans, Denison residents, Grayson County officials and a host of patriotic North Texans gathered at the entrance to Loy Lake Park in Denison on Presidents Day, February 21, 2011, to dedicate a statue of President Eisenhower

The four branches of the U.S. military are unfurled on the flagpoles behind the Eisenhower Veterans Memorial, along with U.S. flags that flew at Eisenhower's alma mater, the United States Military Academy at West Point; Eisenhower Birthplace on the 120th anniversary of his birth; the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Aircraft Carrier; and the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., representing the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower.

The celebration began before the band played a note or the flags were raised on the four flagpoles behind the statue. Cars and trucks passing just east of the statue on US 75 honked their approval after recognizing the likeness of Eisenhower and seeing the crowd gathered for the ceremony.

                                                                                         

This impressive work of art was created by David Adickes and all funds were derived by the sale of memorial bricks, along with volunteer labor and other donations, including money and material. Don Banman was project coordinator and chair. The walkway around the Eisenhower Veterans Monument is paved with these memorial bricks.  The result of this team effort is a privately funded monument dedicated to Eisenhower and all the men and women who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

                                                         

David Dwight Eisenhower was born October 14, 1890 in Denison.  Known as Dwight, he would change the order of his first two names upon entering United States Military Academy at West Point and go on to earn a place in history as Dwight D. Eisenhower.

                                 

As Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II, Eisenhower planned and directed successful invasions of France and Germany. He would later be named the first supreme commander of NATO forces in 1951 and then serve as U.S. President from 1953-1961.

Grayson County Judge Drue Bynam welcomed the crowd to the dedication ceremony and read a note from a faculty member at West Point that described Eisenhower as a cadet who "wasn't studious, smoked too much and probably wouldn't amount to much."

"Little did they know..." said Judge Bynum.

That cadet would go on to be a 5-star general and a two-term U.S. President that historians consistently rank among the 10 greatest U.S. Presidents.