The gift of a legacy

Union College revives a tribute to veterans

Click here to see the Dec. 26, 2009, Neighbors section in its entirety


By Brenna Wallhauser for the Times-Tribune

As area residents busy themselves with finding the perfect Christmas gift, Union College is preparing a gift of its own.

The college is in the midst of revitalizing a historical structure that pays tribute to local military personnel and veterans.

Union’s Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Gymnasium was built in 1919, just as World War I drew to a close. Although it was created to serve as a gymnasium for Union students, the campus and local communities recognized an opportunity to honor veterans, active servicemen and fallen war heroes.

People in Barbourville and neighboring towns gave small gifts ­ usually five dollars — for each enlisted man serving” from the local area, according to a written history of the building. Those gifts made up the majority of the $45,000 needed to complete construction.

The renovated Soldiers and Sailors will continue to honor those who serve or have served in the military by including a new Tribute Wall on its main floor. As was the case in 1919, the college is inviting people to add their loved ones to the wall.

At the time of its construction more than 90 years ago, Soldiers and Sailors was said to be “the finest structure of its type in Kentucky.” But when the college built Robinson Arena in 1964, the older gymnasium slowly fell out of use and into disrepair. Its historical significance was still appreciated, though; in 1985, the building was added to the National Register of Historical Places.

In 2006, Union’s trustees decided it was time to bring the structure back to life and update its standing as a tribute to local military personnel and war veterans.

Ed de Rosset, Union’s president, says it was an easy decision.

“Our administration has been about reclaiming our older buildings,” he said. “Not all buildings can or should be saved simply because they are old. But demolishing or continuing to neglect Soldiers and Sailors seemed a practice of poor stewardship and disrespect for a very important community memorial and architectural legacy.”

Others at Union agree.

“We’ve experienced so many other losses since 1919,” said Denise Wainscott, vice president of advancement. “The tri-counties and southeast Kentucky lost many good men and women in World War II and in each war and military effort since Soldiers and Sailors was built. We want to extend the building’s legacy to them, to their families, and to all those who have served and continue to serve.”

Around the time Union’s board of trustees voted to revive the building, Knox County’s National Guard unit, the Mountain Warriors, was heading into action in Iraq.

“That added a feeling of urgency to the project for us,” said de Rosset. “We have alumni, friends and family members who serve with the Mountain Warriors. They’ve been very much on our minds as we’ve worked on the renovation.”

Renovations began in 2006. The lower-level of the building, which was once home to an indoor swimming pool, is now a workout space with cardio and weight-training equipment.

Once the main floor is finished, it will host intramural activities and be a space for campus or community events as available. De Rosset believes community use of the space is important. The college has a history of allowing campus buildings to be scheduled for use by the community; the library, chapel, athletic facilities, technology center and conference rooms are available when not in use by the college for academic or athletic purposes. Soldiers and Sailors will be added to that list upon completion.

“Soldiers and Sailors came into being because the community joined with us in its creation,” he said. “That same spirit is behind this renovation. The building honors and pays tribute to people in and of our neighboring communities, so it’s crucial that they have opportunity to enjoy the space.”

When the renovated building is open for use, the Tribute Wall is likely to be a favorite feature. One college official has chosen to place on the wall the names of a grandfather who fought in the Spanish-American War and an uncle who was in World War II. Others are honoring military personnel currently in service.

Wainscott says the Tribute Wall can make a perfect Christmas gift for service men and women, veterans and family members of veterans.

“It’s a touching way to honor or remember someone,” she said. “And we’ll happily provide a keepsake certificate acknowledging the Tribute Wall gift to whoever the donor designates.”

To learn more about Soldiers and Sailors or to add a loved one’s name to the Tribute Wall, contact Denise Wainscott at 606-546-1218 or wainscott@unionky.edu.

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