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The Alexandria war memorial in front of the railroad station.

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Remembering a Promise To Remember

Alexandria war memorial is decaying.

The monument in front of Alexandria's railroad station is a pledge that residents who die in wartime service never will be forgotten. How, then, could the monument itself be so forgotten? On Monday, Nov. 11, 1940, a crowd of 3,000 gathered for the dedication. Speakers, whose words were not recorded, undoubtedly said the sacrifices of the dead would be remembered forever. But time has affected the stones representing those promises. Decay has set in. Joints are opening. Mortar and caulking have fallen aside, preparing the way for further damage. Those who participated in the long-ago ceremonies would be taken aback at what is visible today.

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