Did you know that Paragould, AR is home to the second oldest Statue of Liberty? 勞 Here's some information provided by the Chamber of Commerce:
On Nov. 11, 1924, Armistice Day, Paragould became home to the second oldest Statue of Liberty in America - the oldest being the original in New York City, dedicated by France to the United States in 1886.
Several Paragould residents worked to raise $2,000 to purchase the statue that was created by John Paulding in 1920. The residents wanted the statue as a memorial to the 40 Greene County men who were killed in World War I. According to newspaper reports more than 5,000 people turned out at the Northeast corner of the Greene County Courthouse on Armistice Day for the unveiling of the statue.The day of celebration also consisted of an air show, a parade, and speeches by local community leaders.
After World War II wings were added to the original memprial so that the names of the 78 men killed in the war could be added. Since then the names have been added to the back for men killed in subsequent wars, including Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf.
The Paragould War Memorial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 20, 1992.
Congratulations to Zekersquiker for the first to find!