American Legion Riders visit High Springs memorials

HIGH SPRINGS – American Legion Riders Post 16 traveled from Gainesville to High Springs on Saturday, March 8 as part of a motorcycle day trip. The purpose of their visit was to see the memorial in honor of fallen military and police service dogs, located in front of the High Springs Fire Station.

Leda Carrero, the person who spearheaded the campaign to raise funding for the memorial, met with the group to thank them for their generous donation. The High Springs memorial was placed in front of the city's fire station and unveiled Nov. 11, 2013, after Carrero and other volunteers collected $1,200 in donations.

Ten members of the 30-member American Legion group wanted to see the finished memorial.

“They are in the process of preparing a memorial of their own in Gainesville,” said Paul Slag, a member of the Gainesville American Legion and High Springs resident. “Their memorial will be totally different in design and will be placed at Kanapaha Gardens in Gainesville,” he said.

Another memorial was also the topic of discussion. The memorial honors those who have served their country in time of war. Known as the War Memorial, it was erected on Oct. 11, 1980 by American Legion Post 97. The current location of the memorial is on the grounds of St. Bartholomew's Church. The church will soon be building on that site. As Post 97 is no longer in place, the group discussed the possible relocation of the memorial. Carrero is in the process of determining costs and has vowed to assist in fund-raising any way she can if the group wishes to move the memorial.

One suggested new site may be between the Sept. 11 Memorial and the memorial to the fallen Police and Military Service Dogs. If the American Legion decides to relocate the War Memorial, the city will likely be contacted for permission to relocate to that site.

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