By Pepper Fisher
CARLSBORG – The local Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution are asking for the public’s help in restoring a memorial to soldiers who died in the first world war.
100 years ago, a monument was placed in front of a public school on Carlsborg Road, with a bronze plaque which read “In memory of the Clallam County boys who fought and died in the World War. And of their heroic mothers. Erected by T. Benoit, 1924.”
Today, the large stone monument sits without a plaque at all, in front of Carlsborg Family Church—the former school property. Priscilla Hudson of Sequim Prairie Garden Club brought this forgotten monument to the attention of the local Michael Trebert Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Sandy Frykholm is the chapter’s historian.
“The three pillars that are the primary focuses of service are, historic preservation, education and patriotism. And our chapter has been a big supporter through this more than 100 years of history of putting historical markers in place. We’ve placed seven around Clallam County, and this would be our most recent project related to historical markers.”
Frykholm says the plan is to restore the monument to look a little different than the original, and still honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
“We won’t be replacing the marker with another bronze one. Our plan is to put a granite engraved marker that includes the original wording from the bronze marker that was there. And then to also add the names of the men that it memorializes, which were not included on the original marker.”
That’s where some of you may come in. DAR members are asking anyone who may be a descendant of, or has a record of, a Clallam County soldier who died in World War 1, to contact them with that information. They’ve set a deadline of May 31 to get the names, to leave them time to get the new memorial engraved before the end of this year, the 100th anniversary of the original.
“I hope that we can not leave anybody out that should be mentioned on this plaque. There are many men who fought in World War I from Clallam County who did not die in the course of their service. And, the intention of this Memorial is for those who did give their life.”
Readers who have information about World War I soldiers from Clallam County who died in the war are invited to contact Sandy Frykholm at (360) 461-6897 or by email at sandralfrykholm@olypen.com.
Michael Trebert Chapter would also like to identify living relatives of those men, so they can share their relative’s stories with the chapter. Family members would also be invited to attend the rededication of the monument.
(Photo: Volunteers from Michael Trebert Chapter prepare to clean the stone last October for a World War I monument in Carlsborg, to be restored this year. Pictured from left, Wanda Bean, Judy Nordstrom, Ginny Wagner, Mona Kinder, Darlene Cook, Kristine Konopaski, Pam Grider, Sharlyn Tompkins, and Amira-Lee Salavati. Participants not pictured: Judy Tordini and Lindsey Christianson)