DREAM OF MEMORIAL A REALITY; ADVANCE SITE HONORS VETERANS

ADVANCE -- A special salute to those who have served their country will be held Monday at Advance. A large crowd is expected to gather at Advance City Square to dedicate a veterans memorial.

"The memorial will contain names of local people who have served in any component of the U.S. military," said James Harnes, chairman of a 17-person committee that is bringing the special "seven-tablet" memorial to reality.

Monday's program, starting at 10:30 a.m., will include a fly-by presented by an Air Force squadron from the St. Louis area; addresses by Navy Capt. James J. Harnes Jr. and Marine Col. Frank Holder, both stationed in the Washington D.C. area; and entertainment by Juanita Holder of Advance and professional singer Sondra Harnes Selway of Falls Church, Va. Dennis Lorch will serve as master of ceremonies.

"We have been working on this project more than two years," said Harnes.

It began, he said, when a small group of veterans started talking about the possibility of a special memorial.

"We started contacting people in the Advance area and Advance natives in other areas," he said. "One of our biggest boosts came from a former citizen now living in the Washington, D.C., area. He sent us $15 and a note saying he hoped our idea would become a reality."

The idea "snowballed," said Harnes, a 21-year army veteran who retired with a rank of captain.

Funds have amounted to more than $20,000. "We've received donations from more than 600 people from all over the country from New York to California from Florida to Michigan," said Harnes.

"We have had some large contributions, too, from corporations. "We've had so much help from so many people. It's been very gratifying."

A major contributor is Liley Monuments of Marble Hill, Harnes said, noting that the firm donated the center tablet for the memorial.

The center tablet, which explains the purpose of the monument, also contains the names of the 17 committee members who have made the military memorial possible.

They are Harnes, Lorch, William T. Bradshaw Jr., the Rev. Virgil Bunch, David L. Cummings, Kenneth Emerson, Judy Friedrich, G. William Holder, Ryan Holder, Louis Ingram, Joe LaCroix, Jan Morgan, Robert L. Rainey, David Rhodes, Paul Spears, Duane Wiggins and F. E. Wiggins.

"The center piece is seven feet tall, four feet wide, and eight inches thick," said Harnes.

He explained that the additional six tablets will be six and a half feet tall and three feet wide.

Names of those from the Advance area who have served in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and National Guard have been placed on the memorial, which has been designed so that other names can be added.

"The memorial now contains 450 names," said Harnes. "That represents almost 12,000 cuts into the stone."

"We have one person who served in the Civil War," said Harnes. "Willis Whitwell was a confederate soldier."

Whitwell is a familiar name at Advance.

"He was one of the founders of Advance," said Harnes. "We have a street and an addition named after him. He also has relatives living here."

More people from the Advance area have served in the army than other branches of services. Three of the tablets are for names of people who served in the army, with one each for the navy, marines and air force.

"The area involved includes the Advance School and mail route areas," said Harnes.

Capt. Harnes, one of the Monday speakers, was born in Cape Girardeau and raised in Advance, where he graduated from high school.

He is a graduate of Central Methodist College, in Fayette, Mo., and earned a master of arts degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Capt. Harnes received his commission in 1966. He has served in many commands, including Vietnam.

He has served as director of public affairs in the U.S. European Command, and director of Congressional and Public Affairs in the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command.

"He (Capt. Harnes) lives in the Woodbridge, Va., area near Washington D.C.," said Harnes, who is his father. "He still lists Advance as his home address."

Holder, a 20-year-plus veteran of the Marines, also has area ties.

"Holder's family is from the Bell City area," said Harnes. "He still has relatives living here."