Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Hello Georgia: an unforgettable experience An idea chiseled in stone On May 9, 1970, ah expectant crowd of nearly 100,000 waited, as a giant helicopter descended ‘ slowly against the background of most prominent and >• ancient landmark Stone Mountain. Circling the face of the majes -7‘ . tic granite monolith, the largest visible rock in the world, the air craft, darting downward and pro jected against the majestic face of the mountain, looked like a ' fly moving from a light fixture toward a coffee table in a large room. It was an awesome spectacle. As the aircraft came down slow- * ly, the whirl of two giant rotors propelled a breeze, which, like a * huge exhaust fan, whizzed through the waiting crowd. * Moments after the craft touched down the door opened, and out stepped several well dressed men in blue suits; fol lowing closely behind, was a •t tall, hefty-built man with the resemblance of General George Patton; the man was Spiro Agnew, then Vice-president of the United States. Agnew had come to dedicate ’-'the Stone Mountain memorial jr the world’s largest ■ .‘carving. "• Meanwhile, as an aide to the governor of Georgia, I was at the State Capitol with a small group of staff members watching the great historic event on television, •' as our boss, then-Governor ■. Lester Maddox, presided over X* the Georgia entourage and wel < corned the Vice-President to the supernal site. j Governor Maddox, probably the most camera ready and pub licized governor of any state in f U.S. history, was beaming with T ecstatic delight. Though keenly critical of the Nixon administra tion’s Vietnam War stalemate, Maddox seemed, at least for a few choice moments, on very good terms with Washington. And why shouldn’t he be? He kept me busy for continuous days and nights from 1967 to 1970 researching to find more and bigger things to use in the speeches I helped him prepare; this one was the biggest of all! He could now spread the word to New York, San Francisco, and back to Miami, that here in Georgia was something never seen anywhere before, never attempted by anyone, and proba bly never in a million years to be matched. The Stone Mountain memorial carving is carved from a moun tain older than the Himalayas, and presents, in proportions that are overwhelming to the eye, and more dazzling than anyone’s imagination ever conceived in its most exaggerated flight. Chiseled in stone are three fig ures; namely, President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, and Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson; they rest on a carved-out nitch in the mountain the size of a city block. The imposing figure of General Lee is roughly the height of a 9- story building, and his horse, Traveller, is about the size of 5 steam locomotives. Where did such an idea origi- Dr. Stephen Persone D.C. Hwy. 369 & Hwy. 306 Specializing In Tough Cases and Second Opinions By Appointment 886-0007 nate? In the mind of the brilliant Georgia writer, John Temple Graves. He had seen this mon strous bulk of Stone Mountain, and began to yearn for some vis ible expression of the story of the South’s valor during the War Between the States. The idea emerged as Graves was writing an editorial, this embryonic germ was weaved into his editor ial with words that later became a physical manisfaction. Many people read the article, but one who read it, a woman, had become intrigued with the idea, because she had a loving memory of the heroes in gray; she had to respond. That woman was C. Helen Plane, of Atlanta. She had been in Atlanta when the city was burned by General Sherman, and she was inspired by the heroic deeds and accomplishments of her beloved Southland. “Why not present this idea to my friends and associates in the Atlanta Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy?” she pondered. A resounding whirlwind of applause shook the room as this Southern lady enthusiastically told the group about her idea of an awe-inspiring memorial trib ute which could be carved on the face of the rugged rock in DeKalb County, Georgia; it could be their way of commemo rating the deeds of those whose fame was cherished. The year was 1915. The first step in the gigantic task was to find a sculptor to do the work. They had heard of Gutzon Borglum, who had attracted the resting in the rotun da of the Capitol at Washington, D. C. Borglum was asked to come to Atlanta to inspect the mountain and consider the possi bility of carving on the face of this perpendicular cliff a figure of General Robert E. Lee, or at least, his face, to pay tribute to the Southern spirit imbedded in its lost cause. Borglum came, he saw, and he conquered. His interest was not just stimulated, but fueled with burning passion. In an article published in the New York Times Magazine, Jan. 2, 1916, Borglum was quoted on his description of the mountain and its proposed monument: “Stone Mountain, in its colossal proportions, makes the Pyramids small and insignificant by com parison. They are built of cut r ALPHA RUG EXPO Lowest Prices Guaranteed Over 1,000 Rugs In Stock New Arrivals Weekly ■=|| 770-753-9878 H«*9 Mon-Sat 10AM-6PM ypi_! — Midway at Hwy 9 & Post Rd. jSfe FAT GRABBERS MW This is a unique product that has the ability to " trap fat molecules, making them unavailable for digestion. The trapped fats are then eliminated through the intestinal system. Fat Grabber’s can “grab” up to 80-85% of “bad" fats in the body. |r Fat Mayfrl IFovffi 101 Atlanta Hwy. gpGrabbers "™ * Cumming, GA 30040 mEw capsules Hwb Store 770-889-8586 1 a YOUR REAL ESTATE ADVISOR JIM FRENCH GRI, CRS, CRB ACTIVE MARKETING JIM FRENCH It takes a lot more than a “For Sale” sign in the front yard, a Multiple Listing entry and an occasional ad in the classifieds to get a listing sold. Be sure to discuss the details of the marketing plan with the companies and Realtors you interview about selling your home. Realtors who provide high quality service will usually have a written marketing plan tailored to fit your home and your individual needs. A good marketing plan begins with pricing the home well and will involve exposing your home to as many real estate professionals and qualified buyers as possible. The agent’s job is to get buyers through your front door; your job is to ensure that the buyers will like what they see. Top agents are very active finding prospective buyers and in coaching sellers about how to enhance their home's presentation. There are differences in the marketing approaches of companies and individual agents, so ask for a written plan to give you a clear idea of what you can expect of your agent. For professional advice when buying and selling lake property, call Jim French. 14*1*, FRENCH PROPERTIES ■ (770) 886-8787 Clifford Cg|~| Brewton stone and long since have fallen into decay... had the Egyptians possessed Stone Mountain, there can be little doubt they would have shaped it into one of the first wonders of the world.” “What interests me in this mon ument,” Borglum continued, “is that it represents the first effort in this country to build a memorial to a cause, without singling out an individual the first effort in America to build a monument to a nation. “It is a monument to two or three million women that worked just as hard and suffered much more than their brothers or hus bands....“lt is a monument to a movement.” On Aug. 17, 1915, the idea was announced to the world, and the Stone Mountain Confederate Monumental Association was formed. Gutzon Borglum started first with the concept of carving not just three, but many representa tives of the Confederacy, includ ing General Bedford Forrest, and others, along yith a mighty army. But after a few years, a frustrated Borglum quit to take another assignment at Mt. Rushmore. In 1925, Augustus Lukeman resumed the challenge, but finan cial restraints stopped the work. In 1958, the Legislature of Georgia created the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, and finally, in 1964, Walker Hancock was retained to finish the carving, utilizing a totally different technique. The Memorial is the august highlight of the great 3800-acre Stone Mountain Park; 10 million people visit this alluring site each year, the largest tourist attraction in the Southeast. Today the monument stands, as the completing sculptor said, “as an eternal tribute to that period of American history which, through though tragic, gave birth to the united country we are today. “No such monument has ever before been attempted in this country; nor will such an oppor tunity ever again exist.” Big lessons from a little man Being a snow lover, I am enthralled with the Winter Olympics. I love the pageantry, the speed, the excitement of it all, and I especially love watch ing sports in which you could never participate in the south eastern United States. To my knowledge, there’s never been a ski jump champion from Cumming. Maybe I could be the first. Just wait until our next snow and I’ll practice loping off my back deck. In these Games, I have to admit that my favorite moment has involved a Japanese, not an America, winning the gold. On Tuesday night, my beloved and I watched as 23 year old Hiroyasu Shimizu (you won’t hearing me say his name in this morning’s sermon I can write it a lot easier than I can say it) raced around the speed skating track. Man, you should have seen the Japanese fans cheering hit on; it was as if they were on the track with him. When he won and the reality of being Japan's first gold medalist on skates hit him Shimizu buist into tears and wept openly before his countrymen. I loved it. He’s now my favorite Olympian and not just because I enjoy a strong height advan tage over him. He stands a mere Benefit for Challenged Child set for March Swayne Brown and the Song Masters will be hosting the Fifth Annual Gospel Sing to benefit Challenged Child Inc...and friends. It will be held Friday, March 6, at 7 p.m., at the First Baptist -Church on Green Street in Gainesville. Admission is free, and all “Loving Offerings” will be donated to the non-profit agency. Brown has quite a line-up of Btico credits » COMPANY 1 W 416 Atlanta Highway w Cumming, GA 30040 H Let the friendly staff at TICO CREDIT help u 0 you with Home Improvements, Car Repairs, » ® Debt Consolidation, Unexpected Medical Bills, W |l| that Special Gift for a Loved one, or 1| H that much needed VACATION. V® ik No matter what the need. S W We want to make it easy as possible to | GETTHE MONEY YOU NEED I i WHEN YOU NEED IT. 1 Bl CALL TODAY AND APPLY BY PHONE W | (770) 886-3238 | O to! gSjJSt All loans subject to our liberal credit policy ® w & creclit limitations, if any. llvMf 1I HL : I I FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Sunday, February 15,1 W» I 5 feet 4 inches tall while I tower over him at 5 feet 5 inch es (0.K., I’m really 5 feet 4 inches and a half but who’s counting?). He’s my favorite Olympian because he’s an inspiration and because he reminded me of an important lesson in the Christian faith Shimizu’s father passed away several years ago. Ho had given his son much the same advice my own father gave me just because you are smaller is no reason to quit; just work harder. After winning the gold, Shimizu mentioned feeling his father’s presence and then said, “My father in heaven is the first person I would like to tell that I have achieved my dream.” That’s pretty powerful. I don’t know Shimizu’s reli gious beliefs but his words struck a chord. Don’t they remind you of what the writer of the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament said when he spoke of the great giants of the faith who had gone on before and then encouraged, “Therefore, wince we are sur rounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw of” everything that hinders and the sin that so easily enables, and let us run with perseverace the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author well-known gospel groups this year. WCON radio personality, Danny O’Day and April Reed will be emceeing the show. Featured performers, in addition to Swayne and Song Masters are: The Merediths, The Melody Trio and Troy Burns. The St. John’s Baptist Choir and Youth Choir will be performing for the first time. And what’s sure to be a treat the children from V Rev. Herb JSL Flanders and perfecter of our faith, who for thejJoy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:172, NTV) We owe a debt to those who have already crossed the river and who laid a foundation of faith arid love for us through their deeds of righteousness and commitment. Their example should inspire and encourage us to do and be our best, to never quit, to go for the gold. And the greatest way to repay that debt is to live in such away as to be an example, a shining light) for the next generation. Think of the inspiration that Hiroyasu Shimizu can be to millions of Japanese boys and girls, think of the inspiration that you and I can be for the little ones around us and for those yet to come. Go for the Gold! Herb Flanders in the pastor of Lanier United Methodist Church, located on Hwy. 20, 3/5 miles east of Ga. 400. Challenged Child will be per forming a special song for the enjoyment of the audience. For more information, call (770)535-8372. Challenged Child Inc... and friends is a non-profit therapeu tic center dedicated to the needs of children with disabilities and developmental delays and their families across Northeast Georgia. PAGE 3B