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Published on 11/09/1998 All articles from this issue

A Veteran's Day tribute, 'Cradle of Liberty' represents value of all human life

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By Del Beumer

The Statue of Liberty stands at the entrance to New York harbor, beckoning to all who yearn to be free. This quest is realized, and the promise is kept in the Cradle of Liberty standing in Shoup Park in Los Altos.

A lone wounded soldier holds a small child in the cradle of his arms. He captures the essence of the reason people have bonded together in times of conflict and hostility to act as the shield to protect the weak, the young and the helpless. Rebecca J. Truman, the creator of the Veterans Memorial, appropriately named it the Cradle of Liberty. She captures this determination in the soldier's expression, while highlighting the tenderness in the soldier's eyes as he gently holds the helpless child, wrapped in an American flag, in his arms.

This soldier is not the traditional conquering hero riding on a proud stallion, displaying his strength and the marvel of our modern technology. This soldier has been exposed to the fire and fury of battle and has suffered a wound on his right arm. His reverence for the small child, Liberty, reminds every observer that this could be a father, a son, or a brother. He yearns for his family back home, but duty and simple humanity require that the innocent be protected.

America's fighting men have always been the citizen soldiers called from their homes and families to protect and defend the principles we hold so dear. These principles have never included territory, riches, or personal gain. This soldier stands on a foundation containing stones from a few of the battlefields of the world where American blood was shed. From Valley Forge to Guadalcanal, Gettysburg to Tarawa, Pearl Harbor to Anzio, and Corregidor to the beaches of Normandy, the land was reclaimed in the name of liberty. It is precisely this selflessness that inspires the highest ideals of the rejected and underprivileged, defeats the despots and renews the desire for liberty among the peoples of the world. Liberty is the beacon and a vigilant America is still the world's best hope.

The sacrifices of America's sons and daughters are a silent testimony to the value that we place on human life. We are free men and women who love our liberties and our freedom, and we sail, march and fly into harm's way to protect these cherished ideals, not only for ourselves, but for our children and all the children of tomorrow. This sacrifice and dedication is the Cradle of Liberty.

When asked if she had a name for the soldier, Truman responded that there were too many names and faces to restrict to one name for identification. She said the soldier is everything that we stand for and even with his force of stature, he cradles Liberty in his arms for all to enjoy.

The monument is cast in bronze and beautifully burnished to show a gentle expression. Indeed, Truman has created the perpetual symbol for Los Altos and the world. It stands in humble simplicity in California on a small knoll along a small stream under a grove of sheltering trees. The Statue of Liberty is a welcome beacon on the East Coast beckoning for all who are yearning to be free.

The Cradle of Liberty stands on the West Coast at the end of the quest. The soldier is the symbol of bearing the burden and paying the price to realize the manifest destiny of Liberty. American soldiers have protected all people and given them the opportunity to experience the glory of Liberty. The soldier is realizing the goal of a promise kept and renewed for this and every future generation. He is the symbol of the almost unlimited energy of free people.

When Bill Henderson and Jay Brandon formed the Veterans Memorial Foundation in 1996, they started a chain of events that has resulted in a monument to more than the veterans of Los Altos. It was dedicated this past July 4, and is the culmination and realization of the quest for the value and importance of human life which started with the Magna Carta in 1215 and is now symbolized by the Cradle of Liberty in Shoup Park. As is the model of all great leaders, more is accomplished when freedom of thought, and expression results in great achievements.

Del Beumer has been a resident of Los Altos for more than 30 years. After 34 years of service, he retired from the U. S. Naval Reserves in 1989 as a Rear Admiral.