By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist     

A group of dedicated men, mostly veterans, have worked tirelessly to build a memorial to honor the 43 veterans who are laid to rest in the K-Springs Cemetery located on Highway 39 in Chelsea.

SP4 Ray Shirley (U.S. Army 1964-1966) is descended from K-Springs pioneers and spearheads the project. His family’s veterans, father Robert C. Shirley, Uncle Harold Moore and cousin Paul Rowell, are buried in the cemetery.

Shirley worked with committee members, many who are also veterans and have relatives buried at K-Springs: Shirley’s brother, SP4 Jerry Shirley, U.S. Army 1969-1970; Capt. Gus Speary, U.S. Army 1971-1980; Airman First Class Larry McCrory, U.S. Air Force 1963-1968 (K-Spring vet brother-in-law John E. Ferguson, Jr.); SP5 Kenneth L. Nivens, Army Security Agency 1955-1958 (K-Spring vets cousin Billy Payne Minor, Uncles Floyd and Elra Kendrick); Capt. W.J. Ferguson, Marines (K-Spring vets father John Ellis Ferguson, brothers Devon and Johnny Ferguson); Sgt. Jimmie Adkins, Jr. Army; SP4 Eddy Burchfield, Army, 1970-1973, Army National Guard, 1985-1992 (K-Springs vets Jimmy and Larry Atkins) and Rusty Schoenfeld.

The K-Springs Veterans Memorial features the emblems and flags of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard and is inscribed with the names of veterans buried at K-Springs Cemetery.

The inscription above the names says, “IN GRATEFUL TRIBUTE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY.” Space is available for more names to be inscribed.

“Special thanks to all individuals and businesses who made contributions to this important monument possible: Home Depot, Hwy 280; Perrian & Son, Hey 280; Unique Industries, Hwy 25; American Drilling & Crane; Gary Nivens, Randy Nivens, Jeff Braden, K-Springs Community Church, all of Chelsea; James Ingram Construction, Wilsonville; Central Alabama Fabricators, Columbiana; Valley Sign and Banners; Brandon Salser Plumbing; Shelby Granite Monument, Calera; and Down South Realty Co.,” said Ray Shirley, chairman and president K-Springs Veterans Memorial, Inc. “Continued financial support will be necessary to complete the construction. Make checks payable to K-Springs Community Church, 4176 Highway 39, Chelsea, Ala. 35043. Cash should be presented in person.”

A dedication ceremony will be held, date to be announced. God bless those who have served our great nation and are laid to rest at K-Springs.

The following is a list of the 43 veterans in the cemetery: J.T. Johnson, Army, WWII; John W. Evans Jr., Army; Robert M. Rogers, WWI; Orrin W. Jewell, Army; Tierce M. Jones Jr., WWII; Tierce M. Jones, WWI; Benny Turner, Army; G.W. Turner, Army, WWII; John G. Champion, Army; Paul A. Thurman, Air Force; Gerald A. Davidson, Army; Billy W. Marlow, Army; Carlton H. Isbell, Navy; Willis D. Moore Jr., Army; Harold B. Moore, Army, WWII; Anthony C. Furney, Army; Elra F. Kendrick, Army, WWII; Floyd E. Kendrick, Army, WWII; Ernst A. Gunnarson, Army, WWII; John E. Ferguson Sr., Army, WWI; Wallace D. Ferguson, Air Force; Billy W. Minor Sr., Army; Herman R. Moore, Navy, WWII; James W. Thompson, Air Force; Thomas B. Turner, Army; James K. Brown, Marine Corps; Elzie C. Minor, Army, WWII; John E. Ferguson Jr., Army, WWII; Joseph L. Moore, Army, WWII; Nathaniel M. Barker II, Army; William C. Horne, Army, WWII; Roland C. Griffin, Navy; Franklin D. Cox, Army; Robert C. Shirley, Army, WWII; Paul Rowell, Navy; Verne P. Craig, Army; William Brasher, Army; Herman L. Smith, Army; Edwin C. Miles, National Guard; Lester M. Pate, Navy, WWII; Samuel J. Robinson, Army, WWII; Jimmy Perrin, Army; John W. Niven, Army.