Another article relating to the Veterans Memorial Clock
once again I tried to retain any errors or misspelling from the original text.
Dateline: Granville, New York, Thursday, September 30, 1943
Headline: Fraser Dedicates Town Memorial Clock Sunday; Warns of Complacency
In a stirring patriotic address, before an attendance of about 1,000 people, who lined the sidewalks and the village square Sunday afternoon, Leon M. Fraser of North Granville and New York City dedicated the new electric town clock which has been erected and installed on the corner of the Washington County National Bank building.
In his opening Mr. Fraser stated that he was pleased to come to Granville and say a few words for the dedication of the new clock which takes the place of the old town clock which was installed half a century ago and which was destroyed by fire in November 1942.
He called attention to the manner with which both of the clocks were purchased, the old in a cold improvised way of tax raising and the new clock from a warm-hearted response of the public’s contribution of funds. He said that he hoped that the new clock may not see another war like the old clock which had been through two World wars.
“Instead of waiting for the war to be over and then erecting a memorial you have done it at a time when those who serve may see it and hear it. It also is a memorial to those who in the coming weeks and months will join those who are already serving,” said Mr. Fraser.
He called attention to the fact that there are more than 500 men from Granville in the service all over the world and that the Granville people on the home front, those who contribute to the purchase of War bonds, to the Red Cross; the factories and the farmers all are helping in this total war.
He admonished the audience not to be complacent, or become too optimistic about the early ending of the war. “I wish I could tell you that the war would soon be over, but I can not. There is too much optimism altogether and as we fight out way closer to the enemy we will find resistance more terrible and our losses greater and greater every day.”
He said that the war is not in the bag. “And if I had any word to pass on to you, it would be that all of us must double our efforts,” he continued.
Mr. Fraser said that the Granville boy who may not understand the language fo the diplomat, or the words of the historian, knows what he is fighting for. “He is fighting for the way of life he knew in Granville – the American way – which the enemy doesn’t want to tolerate for him. And the English boy fights for his way of life and the Germans don’t like it nor do the Japs like it.”
He spoke a good word for Russia saying that the Russian also fights for the right to live his own life and that there is room in this world for several religions as well as for different political opinions.
He congratulated the people of Granville for having the clock and he expressed the hope that it would never see another World war, and that the new clock which is located in the vicinity where the old clock stood, would bring better days than those which have gone before.
Mr. Fraser was given a warm reception by the people of Granville among whom he is no stranger and a round of applause greeted him when he concluded his address.
The Granville band opened the program with several selections led by Howard Wheeler. It was followed by Rev. Lewis Brehaut, who leaves this week to accept a commission in the U.S. Navy, offering the invocation.
Maynard D. Goodfellow who presided over the exercises introduced Mayor E.C. Hewitt, who welcomed the people to the dedication, after which Mr. Fraser was introduced as the principal speaker.
The band followed the speaker with “God Bless America” and Michael T. Minogue, chairman of the clock committee which assisted in raising the funds for the new clock, expressed his thanks and appreciation to everyone who assisted in making the drive a success and he particularly mentioned the Granville fire department and the girls who staged the tag day.
Mr. Minogue was then given the honor of setting the clock in motion by pressing a button and the chimes struck 3 o’clock. Rev. Lewis Brehaut rendered a local selection, “The Trumpeter,” and he was accompanied at the piano by Mrs. Jennie Hewitt.
Michael T. Minogue then announced the judges’ decision that Marilyn Rote-Rosen and Monica Minogue were the winners of the clock slogan and he presented each with a $5 cash prize.
Rev. Mr. Brehaut offered the benediction and the program closed with the assembly singing the “Star Spangled Banner.”
Lined up in formation in front of the speaker’s rostrum were the following: The Granville fire department; the Boy and Girl Scouts; the American Legion and Auxiliary.
