Indiana Cut Stone News
Indiana Cut Stone Artisans Create and Donate Veterans Memorial Marker
Article Courtesy of Times-Mail Written by Jeff Routh
BEDFORD - A new limestone marker honoring veterans of the War in Iraq and Afghanistan has been elected on the west side of the Lawrence County Courthouse in the Veterans Plaza.
It joins other markers around the Miss Liberty statue.
The new marker was a gift to the county from Indiana Cut Stone.
"Don Baker (former owner of the company) called me one Saturday morning," said Bill Baker.
Lawrence County Veterans Services officer. "He asked me if I could come out to the shop. I did, and
he showed me the carving the men had done. Then he asked me, 'Do you want it', and I said I did."
Baker then went to the Lawrence County Commissioners to ask if the marker could be placed on the courthouse lawn. With permission in hand. Baker went about selecting a site for the marker.
He showed Don's son, Ernie, where he wanted the marker to go, and the rest. as they say, is history. They took care of it." Baker said. "They dug the hole, poured the footer and set the marker in place. They've done a good job."
The marker. which was produced by computer-aided machines and human carvers, weighs approximately 3.600 pounds. It was done for the Limestone Heritage Festival's carving competition and received the People's Choice award.
"Bob Pace and Bamey Duncan are really the people behind the design of the marker," said Ernie Baker. "We had a theme, and they put their heads together and created this design. Bob was in charge of the computerized portion, and Barney did the: hand finishing, including the lettering on the ribbons,"
Baker said a core group of about 10 people worked on the monument. which is comprised of three pieces - the base. the stand and the marker. He said there is about 40 staff hours in the marker, not including the computerized carving time.
"Dad and I are both veterans of the United Stales Air Force." Baker said of the reason his company decided to donate the marker to the county, "We donate to the VA, We had the opportunity to highlight what we can do as a business and give something to Bill as a salute to area veterans.
