18 May 2011 CCC statue dedication set Saturday at Damascus

A special statue will be dedicated on Saturday to honor the men who served at the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp at Damascus.

For organizer Dan Dipert, the bronze “CCC Worker Statue” honors not only “The Boys of Company 3781,” but also someone very dear to him – his father. (See the June issue of 501 LIFE for the complete story on the dedication and a feature on “Coffee” Dan Dipert.)

Working with the CCC Legacy Journal and Foundation, men in Arkansas and Missouri who served at the camp have been invited to the statue dedication set for 10 a.m. at the site of the camp at 345 Camphill Road in Damascus. The property has been designated a National Historic Preservation Site.

The Damascus statue becomes the third in Arkansas, with one at Petit Jean State Park and the other at Devil’s Den State Park. There are 54 of the bronze statues in the United States.

In addition to the dedication, those attending will be invited to take part in the “National Walk in the Woods Day” with guided tours of Dipert’s tree farm located near the camp site.

Dipert has worked with the Van Buren County Historical Society to plan the dedication, which will include the Clinton community band and the presentation of colors by a local Boy Scout troop. The South Side High School Choir will perform the National Anthem. Bill Ward will serve as the emcee.

The public is invited to attend.