Groundbreaking ceremony staged for Armstrong Founders Memorial in Riverside Cemetery
A groundbreaking ceremony in Riverside Cemetery late Monday afternoon (March 7th) celebrated the Armstrong Founders Memorial project launched by the newly-formed Friends of Riverside Cemetery, Inc. (FORCI) to honor the founders of the cemetery and the City of Three Rivers.
Mayor Ken Baker, president of the Friends of Riverside Cemetery, referred to a display of renderings showing what the memorial to be constructed in the cemetery’s ‘East Diamond’ will look like. He talked about the project and fundraising efforts – including engraved bricks that will be part of the memorial – to cover a cost estimated to range from $11,000 to $13,000.
In explaining the decision to use the Armstrong name for the memorial, Baker cited the long history of the Armstrong family and company in the community – dating back to 1900. (Ken_Baker_audio clip – :17)
Among those on hand for the ceremony were 93-year-old Betty Lambertson, daughter of Adam Armstrong, the founder of the company that is now Armstrong International, and David Casterline, Director of Corporate Communications for the family-owned company.
In remarks prior to using the ceremonial shovel, Casterline said the company is “extremely humbled” to have the Founders Memorial bear the Armstrong name. He said, “It’s a privilege for Armstrong International to do business in the great City of Three Rivers and this is a really proud moment for all of us and the entire organization. On behalf of Armstrong International, thank you to all of you for recognizing us with this very unique and certainly wonderful memorial. We really appreciate it.” (David_Casterline audio_clip – :37)
During a River Country Journal interview following the groundbreaking, Lambertson said, “I think it’s quite wonderful.” And, she added, “I will be there to see it, I hope.” (Betty_Lambertson_audio clip – :18)
To hear a portion of the groundbreaking ceremony – including comments by Ken Baker and David Casterline – click here (5:29 – 5.02 MB).
To hear the interview with Betty Lambertson – conducted by Bruce Snook of the River Country Journal – click on the following link: Betty_Lambertson_interview (1:22).
To access information about the engraved brick fundraising campaign, click on the following link: Engraved Brick Donation Form.
Shovel turned for Founders’ Memorial
THREE RIVERS — Construction of the Armstrong Founders’ Memorial in Riverside Cemetery is now underway, after a groundbreaking held yesterday in the area 100 yards north of the cemetery office.
The project started a year ago when Friends of Riverside Cemetery, Inc. (FORCI) realized the old cemetery fountain couldn’t be found, president Ken Baker said. Eventually and with much effort it was dug out, leaving a spot for something else in the “East Diamond.”
FORCI decided to build a founders’ memorial, and Armstrong International — a long-standing family business in Three Rivers that is currently thriving — came to mind.
David Casterline, director of corporate communications for Armstrong, said “Ken approached me a couple of months ago. We were extremely humbled … this is a proud moment for all of us. On behalf of Armstrong, thank you for recognizing us with this unique and wonderful memorial.”
Betty Lambertson, daughter of Armstrong founder Adam Armstrong and wife of the late Howard Lambertson, former president of the company, was also present.
“It’s been a nice town to be in,” she said of Three Rivers.
The proposed design calls for a boulder in the center, surrounded by an eight-sided cement viewing patio. Four sidewalks will extend toward the four points of the compass; at the north/south ends there will be two marble benches and at the east/west ends there will be document readers containing the history of Three Rivers and of the cemetery.
The project will be funded by the sale of bricks, each of which is available for $125 — a cost that includes a brief inscription of the donor’s choice — and is available by contacting FORCI.
For more information, call 535-1021, e-mail kenbaker329@comcast.net or visit www.friendsofriversidetr.com.
