 One of my favorite patriotic-themed memorials
honors Walter L. Hendrix (b. Dec. 20, 1924, d. Feb. 15, 2000), a descendant of Cherokee
heritage according to his memorial placed in the Elmhurst Cemetery located in Elberton,
Georgia.
The Band of Brothers
Mr. Hendrix proudly served our country during multiple famous, deadly, heroic campaigns
during World War II. I presume many folks are aware of the story of the “Band of
Brothers” portrayed in a well-respected series by HBO. A search of www.Google.com
will provide a more complete and accurate story of the heroism of this elite group of
fighting men.
One side of his memorial identifies the military campaigns, displaying an eagle perched on
top of an American flag.
The other side of the memorial identifies Hendrix as a member of the “Band of
Brothers,” the proud E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne who fought “from
Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest.” An etching of Hendrix, as he looked in
uniform during World War II, is etched and pigmented on the front of the memorial.
I hope you agree with me that Hendrix’s Memorial evokes a sense of awe and pride for
the courageous achievement of this gallant soldier. The etched and pigmented combat medals
should be a great source of pride to the Hendrix family. This is memorialization that
honors a life committed to serving others and the sacrifice given unselfishly on behalf of
our country.
A Tablet, Sub Base and Base Combination Is Attractive
The Hendrix Memorial uses a vertical tablet with a serpentine top, with a sub base and a
base. I have written before that I like the use of a sub base in memorialization, since it
gives creativity and height to the memorial. The tablet is made from polished black
granite on the front and back, with balance rock pitch or rustic top and sides. The base
and sub base use balance rock pitch sides with steeled or stippled tops for the base and
sub base. The memorial blends well together, using both a combination of colors and
balanced rock pitch on the top of the tablet sides of the tablet, sub base, and base. The
dates of birth and death and military rank as a Master Sergeant are on a bronze plaque and
flush marker placed in front of the memorial.
One cannot pass Sergeant Hendrix’s memorial without reflecting on the heroic men and
women who fought during World War II. May God bless them all for their sacrifice!
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| About Burton Fletcher: Burton Fletcher, with over 20 years’ business experience, owns USAMonuments.com. He
writes frequently on monument building and memorialization. He is a licensed memorialist
in Georgia and Florida and he ships and installs across the United States and Canada.
Burton is the founder and president of the Georgia Monument Builders Association,
www.GAMonumentBuilders.com. He enjoys photography, genealogy, visiting cemeteries, and
studying Southern monuments. Reach Burton at (229)
245.8858 or e-mail Burton@USAMonuments.com for all your monument needs. © Burton
Fletcher 2005 All Rights Reserved. |
