Southern Utah Veterans Home dedicated with full honors; STGnews Videocast and Photo Gallery

The dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News

IVINS – In a ceremony filled with honor, pride, gratitude and relief, the new Southern Utah Veterans Home was officially dedicated on Thursday afternoon.

“This is a proud day for Ivins and all of Southern Utah,” Mayor Chris Hart said. “On behalf of Ivins City, I welcome everyone who will work here and the veterans who will reside here.”

Escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders of Southern Utah, a select few dignitaries arrived for a VIP reception before the event opened to the public. Among them were representatives from the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans and veterans advocates including J. Robert DuBois, author of “Powerful Peace: A Navy SEAL’s Lessons on Peace from a Lifetime of War.”

The ceremony commenced at 1 p.m. with the presentation of the colors by the American Legion Post 69 and Boy Scouts of America Special Troop 1685, for which the entire audience of hundreds fell respectfully silent.

The Vista Rising Stars, a youth performing arts group from Vista Charter School in Ivins, performed the National Anthem. Korean War veteran Bill Stay led the crowd in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a prayer from Pastor Rick Nerud of Calvary Chapel St. George.

Utah Lt. Gov. Greg Bell, former director of the Utah Division of Facilities Management D. Gregg Buxton, former Rep. Dave Clark, Rep. Don Ipson, deputy director of the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs Dennis McFall, executive director of the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs Terry Schow and Hart each delivered an impassioned speech on their personal experiences in the vision, planning and ultimate completion of the home.

Clark concluded his remarks fighting tears, offering gratitude to all military servicemen and women, especially those who lost their lives in combat.

To me, the great honor we can pay to those fallen veterans is through service to the living veterans,” Clark said.

Stay then carried forward four golden shovels and relayed their story. At the start of the groundbreaking of the veterans home, the local Home Depot donated 12 shovels. Stay painted the surviving four gold and kept them as a memento of the monumental project. He gave one shovel each to Schow, to Hart, and to McFall and the last to hang in the halls of the home.

After one last inspiring musical number from the Vista Rising Stars, it was time for the highlight of the afternoon. Led by Schow, wielding a giant pair of wooden scissors, a group of leading figures in the project cut the red ribbon strung across the building’s main entrance, officially dedicating the Southern Utah Veterans Home. The crowd cheered, exchanged congratulations, shed a few tears and marveled at the impressive result of over a decade of dedicated work.

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Videocast by Chris Caldwell, St. George News

The home is a 102,000-square-foot comprehensive care facility with 108 beds in the housing building plus a separate administration and service building. After years of lobbying by Utah legislators and the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs, the grant for the construction was approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 2005 and funded in 2012. The total cost of the facility is over $19 million and has created approximately 160 new jobs in the community. The State of Utah provided 35 percent of the construction cost, while the federal VA State Home Program provided the other 65 percent. The City of Ivins donated the 10 acres of land upon which the home was built.

“It’s the third new facility we’ve built  in Utah that’s just for veterans, because the legislature was willing to front the money,” Bell said. “This (home) is a tangible expression of Utah’s commitment to our veterans.

Only one facet of the home remains unfinished: A towering 25-foot-tall bronze monument of a bald eagle by world-renowned sculptor Edward Hlavka. When completed and installed, it will rest on the hillside overlooking the housing building as a symbol of the unfailing courage of the heroes who reside there, a fitting final touch.

WWII Army veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor Garth Sawyers said, “I think it’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened in the state of Utah. As a veteran, I’m proud to see a place like this.”

Still, the most profound words of the day were found perhaps in the informational leaflet that every participant received:

“With special gratitude and thanks to the many hundreds of individuals, families and companies who have come together to provide this beautiful facility for our veterans. There is no greater tribute than to give back to those who have given and continue to give so much. Today we dedicate the Southern Utah Veterans Home to serve for many years to come those who served each one of us and preserved the freedoms we enjoy today. The community built this house and the community has come together to honor these selfless ‘ordinary’ men and women by providing them a place to call home.”

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery. 

Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department vehicles escort cars to the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans' Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department vehicles escort cars to the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans’ Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
Patriot Guard Riders of Southern Utah flagline at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
Patriot Guard Riders of Southern Utah flagline at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
The Patriot Guard Riders of Southern Utah attend the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
The Patriot Guard Riders of Southern Utah attend the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
The Patriot Guard Riders of Southern Utah attend the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
The Patriot Guard Riders of Southern Utah attend the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Members of the American Legion, Post 69, present the colors at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
Members of the American Legion, Post 69, present the colors at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
Members of the American Legion, Post 69, present the colors at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
Members of the American Legion, Post 69, present the colors at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders of Southern Utah recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders of Southern Utah recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Vietnam War veteran salutes the flag at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Vietnam War veteran salutes the flag at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
The dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
The dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
The dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
The dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
The dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
The dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Terry Schow speaks at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
Terry Schow speaks at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
D. Gregg Buxton speaks at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
D. Gregg Buxton speaks at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
Rep. Don Ipson speaks at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Rep. Don Ipson speaks at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Mayor Chris Hart speaks at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Mayor Chris Hart speaks at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Korean War veteran Bill Stay speaks at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Korean War veteran Bill Stay speaks at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
The Vista Rising Stars youth performing arts group at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
The Vista Rising Stars youth performing arts group at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News

 

Maj. Adam Ashworth of the Utah National Guard at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Maj. Adam Ashworth of the Utah National Guard at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Patriotic citizens at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Patriotic citizens at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Veterans and citizens at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Veterans and citizens at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Veterans and citizens at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Veterans and citizens at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
The dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
The dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Full crowd at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Full crowd at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Full crowd at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Full crowd at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
The dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
The dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
Ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Official plaque of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
Official plaque of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
The dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News
The dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Alexa Verdugo Morgan, St. George News

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.

Dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans' Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News
Dedication of the Southern Utah Veterans’ Home, Ivins, Utah, May 23, 2013 | Photo by Ron Olroyd, St. George News

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4 Comments

  • Renate Riggs May 24, 2013 at 6:39 am

    great photos of a great day

  • Dream Photography May 24, 2013 at 10:48 am

    Terrific event! Outstanding coverage. Bravo!

  • Nams & Poppy May 24, 2013 at 5:59 pm

    Great Article!! Great Photos!! Great Event!! Go Utah!!! Makes us proud to be Americans!!!

  • George Strutzel Jr May 29, 2013 at 6:22 pm

    Great day very special sitting next to my friend Lee ” Flag Man ” Warren & My post 142 Commander George Camarena It was a great Honor to witness the Dedication !

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