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 [email protected]
or 828-884-1820.