War Memorial Dedicated at Camp Straus

Memorial Day, also known as Decoration Day, is a day to remember those who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces.  The tradition of decorating soldiers’ graves with flowers dates back to ancient times.  Although the practice did occur in the U.S. before the Civil War it was not until 1868 that Decoration Day was regularly held on May 30. 

The date was first referred to as Memorial Day in 1882.  Following WWII the name Memorial Day was used more often and in 1967 it was declared the official name by Federal law.  Beginning in 1971 Memorial Day became a national holiday observed on the last Monday in May.

Today the Ecusta veteran's memorial is located at the
VFW on Nicholson Creek Rd.

On May 30, 1948 a War Memorial dedicated to the sixteen Ecusta employees who died in WWII was unveiled at Camp Straus.  The presentation consisted of an opening pray, the reciting of Sir Walter Scott’s poem, “Soldier, Rest! Thy Warfare O’er”, playing of the national anthem, a flag raising, and a brief speech by Harry Straus.  Straus emphasized the gratitude owed to those who “sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Freedom, Democracy, and Justice.”

An honor guard made up of Ecusta veterans laid wreaths at the base of the monument following its unveiling.  Those who died included Ted Bryan killed in the Pacific; William Heaton and Theodore Schepkowski killed in Germany; Hairman Merrill killed in England; and Christie Costanza, John Robert Jones, Jr. and Marvin Smith killed in France.  Kenneth Smith was lost at sea.  Lewis Sims, Jr. and Talmage Stockstill were killed in a separate plane accidents in the U.S.  Six Ecusta men were also reported missing in action.  They were Robert Corpening in France, Fred Gordon Fowler over Corsica, Charles Richard Hedge in the Near East, Isaac Wesley Keels, Jr. in the Pacific, Rex Willard Muse over Munich, and Joseph Albert Shook in Europe.

The Ecusta veterans’ memorial was located in a quiet spot on the west side of the lake at the company’s recreational park that was named Memorial Grove.  After Camp Straus closed the monument was moved to Ecusta.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments, or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-1820.