
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 27, 1995                   TAG: 9507280029
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

VINTON PREPARES TO MARK MEMORIAL'S 50TH BRITHDAY

Vinton has begun preparations for marking the 50th anniversary of the town's War Memorial, which was built in the late 1940s to commemorate the residents who fought in World War II.

The War Memorial is not the traditional monument-type memorial, but instead is a functional building and grounds.

The building was dedicated on Aug. 20, 1948, and the anniversary program will be perhaps on the same date in 1998.

Town Manager Clay Goodman said the anniversary program is still in the formative stage and no details have been worked out.

Mary Beth Layman, Vinton's special events coordinator, has begun gathering background data, including videotaped interviews with citizens who have been involved with the memorial through the years.

Also, a permanent War Memorial Committee is looking into possible improvements to the building and grounds.

Over the years the War Memorial has become a major park and recreation facility for the town. Many meetings with meals are held in the building, and the grounds offer recreational activities such as swimming, tennis, basketball and the Jaycees' softball field. Also on the site is the town's Senior Citizen Center.

One of the things the committee is considering, Goodman said, is a possible addition to the building.

Goodman emphasized that the committee is still doing preliminary studies, but he said one of its aims is to have any improvements finished by the time of the 50th anniversary observance.

``We are still scratching our heads trying to figure out what the community wants and what would be best for the community [in regard to the War Memorial],'' he said.

Last year, several government students at Virginia Tech studied the War Memorial and submitted a report to the town. That report has become a part of the committee's study.

by CNB