Column: Shorelines

Courtesy of Chris Smith

4-H campers will gather at the Flag Assembly Plaza, which was completed in June.

"I Pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, and my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world."

-- 4-H Pledge

The newly constructed Flag Assembly Plaza at the W.E. Skelton 4-H Center in Wirtz not only makes a statement, it is functional as well.

Besides honoring the United States Military, the Virginia Tech Corp of Cadets and 4-H, it is a place where 4-H campers gather at the beginning and end of each day.

"We had two flag poles and a sidewalk between the old flag poles," explained Roger Elmore, executive director of the W.E. Skelton 4-H Center.

"The kids would line up by packs, and it didn't take but a week that the grass turned into mud or dust depending on the weather. So we said, 'Let's get these kids out of the mud and dust.' It started out as a practical thing then several of our board members said, 'Let's do something more meaningful.' "

What resulted was the construction of the $170,000 Flag Assembly Plaza. The Plaza was completed in early June. It is just one part of the 120-acre facility.

The floor of the plaza is comprised of different colored bands of stone. During the summer, the different colored stones will mark the places where groups of campers will line up during the flag ceremony.

The wall of the plaza is made of "Hokie stone," limestock blocks found in most of the building on the Virginia Tech campus. Brass plaques commemorating the six military branches, the Virginia Corps of Cadets and the 4-H are inlaid into the wall. Flags flutter in the frequent breezes blowing off the water.

"Each day, four flags will be posted here. The first is the 4-H flag. The flag is an excellent reminder of the 4-H pledge," said Dr. Charles Steger, president of Virginia Tech, at the dedication of the Flag Assembly Plaza on Aug. 18.

"The second flag will be the Virginia Tech flag. The university's motto of Ut Prosim -- That I May Serve -- is carried in the hearts of all Hokies and individuals such as Garnett Smith, who are willing to implement Virginia Tech's motto daily while providing leadership in making a project like this plaza become a reality," said Steger. "The last two flags will be the Virginia and U.S. flags. Those, along with the emblems you see in each column of Hokie stone, represent both our freedom and an enduring commitment of service to our country."

Smith is a past president of the Skelton 4-H Center board of directors. The board's vice president of development, he has volunteered with 4-H for 35 years. Smith is one of the members who suggested turning the plaza into a memorial.

"When you look at the tremendous sacrifice and service that these men and women are providing to our country, we need to make sure we are demonstrating our appreciation on an on-going basis," said Smith. "I don't think we say enough how much we appreciate all that they do."

Elmore said the plaza is appealing because of its purpose and location.

"It has a beautiful view of our campus and Smith Mountain Lake," he said. "It can be an area for reflection, and we want to let the veterans who live around the lake know it is here."

Both Elmore and Smith said they believe the plaza will be a great place for Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies. A statue of some sort may one day grace the plaza, said Smith.

The Flag Assembly Plaza is located in front of the Smith Central Activities Building. It's more than a place of remembrance.

"It was amazing in our dining hall how much cleaner having it kept it, because the kids aren't tracking in dust and mud," said Elmore of the Flag Assembly Plaza. "That simple thing saved us work all summer."

In addition to 4-H camps, conferences, wedding receptions, family reunions and church retreats are held there.

"Anything we do, we try to make sure that first and foremost it's a benefit to the kids that use the center, but also we can use it for other groups," said Elmore.

Those other groups help fund 4-H programs. Nearly half the cost of every child who comes to the Smith Mountain Lake campus is subsidized by 4-H, Elmore said.

In the past 45 years, 138,000 children have visited the center for 4-H programs. Another 250,000 children have come with other groups. The W.E. Skelton 4-H Center's facilities mostly have been built with private donations, Elmore added.