'Absolutely Forgotten': Effort Aims to Restore Sonoraville War Memorial

CALHOUN — Over the last five months, a former Gordon County citizen with strong community ties has been working to restore and bring exposure to a forgotten piece of local history.

Since early April, Monte McDearis has been researching a World War II monument that sits on Gordon County Board of Education property, and has been working to figure out a path to have it restored and to remind the community that it’s even there.

Centered between the two walkways leading into the Sonoraville old rock gym, facing Fairmount Highway is a simple rectangular rock monument on a concrete slab with a bronze plaque topped by an eagle that reads “In memory of Sonoraville boys who made the supreme sacrifice in World War II.”

Built in 1950 by the Sonoraville Future Farmers of America chapter, the monument’s plaque lists 12 names: Rob Baker, Frank Bennett, Glenn Blalock, Howard Chapman, Hulon Dutton, Jack Dutton, McRae Greeson, Glenn Hicks, Tommy Nix, James Nix, Jack Thomas, and Robby Watts.

The Frank Bennett listed on the plaque is the uncle of McDearis, and it was while researching his relative over the past decade that the forgotten monument caught his attention.

“I want to restore this,” McDearis said. “It’s absolutely forgotten. Every single person I’ve talked to didn’t know there was a memorial there.”

McDearis suspects the monument’s poor state makes it difficult to read, and says that most people likely just think it’s a cornerstone or generic dedication plaque.

“I think it’s been so neglected, and so forgotten for 74 years, and with the immediate families all gone, it’s just forgotten,” McDearis said. “It’s so worn out and tarnished, no one even thinks to look into it.”

McDearis said he noted pieces of the monument as missing, with the original enamel paint from the bronze completely gone, leaving the plaque severely weathered and tarnished.

Since discovering the monument, McDearis has spent many hours of his own spare time researching the individual men listed on the plague.

“Even if someone did walk up to the monument and see that there’s a list of names, they’re just forgotten names on a plaque,” McDearis said, adding that through hours of reading past Calhoun Times editions on microfilm at the library, he has been able to find photos of seven of the dozen men from the monument, and compile information about their military service. “I basically have read every edition of the Calhoun Times from 1941 to 1948.”

Besides drawing attention to the forgotten war memorial, McDearis has a goal over the next seven months to have a professional restoration of the plaque, and to organize a re-dedication ceremony centered around a key upcoming date.

“My end goal is to have that plaque restored, and have it re-dedicated on the 75th anniversary of it being originally placed, which is in April of next year,” McDearis said, adding that through is research, he also aims to put together a booklet to accompany the dedication ceremony.

After contacting several restoration companies from Atlanta to Knoxville, McDearis said he eventually found a professional in Chattanooga willing to do the work for free after hearing the history and current state of the local monument.

“Upon explaining the history of my research and the current state of the plaque to the woman on the phone, I was contacted by the company’s owner,” McDearis said. “After speaking with him, he generously offered to restore the plaque for free.”

This donation of time and materials would save taxpayers a chunk of change, according to McDearis’ estimate.

“Typically, this type of restoration would cost around $2,000,” he said. “(The owner) even said he would personally drive to Sonoraville to expertly remove the plaque, ensuring it is handled correctly for restoration back in Chattanooga. Once restored, he will professionally reinstall it onto the stone pillar himself.”

McDearis said all he needs now is permission from officials at Gordon County Schools to give him the green light. After that, McDearis said he’d love to involve local veterans organizations and even the Calhoun-based National Guard unit in the re-dedication ceremony.

In addition to his local efforts to have the Sonoraville monument restored, McDearis has been working for over two years on a documentary about his uncle Frank and his battalion during the war titled “Just One More Day.”

“The documentary is a four-part miniseries totaling four hours in length,” McDearis said. “It is currently in post-production and should be ready for publishing within the next two to three months.”