Honor for Fort Smith War Hero
By: KNWA-TV, Fayetteville
Updated: January 9, 2013
Fort Smith city leaders have approved the building of a statue honoring a local war hero.
General William Darby was a decorated World War II soldier who died in the conflict.
The statue will go up at Cisterna Park on Garrison Avenue, if the Darby Day's Ranger Reunion group can gather enough money for the project.
The price tag for the statue is expected to be around $250,000.
Liz Armstrong, the founder of the Darby Day's group, says they want to make sure all funds for the statue are donated through private sector donations and that no city funding is being requested.
A formal announcement will be held on General Darby's birthday, February 8th, solidifying the group's plans.
Darby led the famous Darby's Rangers, which evolved into today's U.S. Army Rangers that were also made famous in a major motion picture titled Darby's Rangers.
"General Darby was one of our hometown heroes," says Armstrong. "He changed the world in many ways with Rangers, Ranger history."
Seven-hundred and 67 soldiers went into Cisterna, Italy during World War II, and only six survived. The town of Cisterna dedicated its high school to Darby and considers him a 'Guardian', which is why Cisterna Park was chosen as the place to honor him.
For more information on how to donate, call Liz Armstrong at (479) 561-0493 or send an email to darbydays.liz@gmail.com.
Darby photo courtesy: Encyclopedia of Arkansas
General William Darby was a decorated World War II soldier who died in the conflict.
The statue will go up at Cisterna Park on Garrison Avenue, if the Darby Day's Ranger Reunion group can gather enough money for the project.
The price tag for the statue is expected to be around $250,000.
Liz Armstrong, the founder of the Darby Day's group, says they want to make sure all funds for the statue are donated through private sector donations and that no city funding is being requested.
A formal announcement will be held on General Darby's birthday, February 8th, solidifying the group's plans.
Darby led the famous Darby's Rangers, which evolved into today's U.S. Army Rangers that were also made famous in a major motion picture titled Darby's Rangers.
"General Darby was one of our hometown heroes," says Armstrong. "He changed the world in many ways with Rangers, Ranger history."
Seven-hundred and 67 soldiers went into Cisterna, Italy during World War II, and only six survived. The town of Cisterna dedicated its high school to Darby and considers him a 'Guardian', which is why Cisterna Park was chosen as the place to honor him.
For more information on how to donate, call Liz Armstrong at (479) 561-0493 or send an email to darbydays.liz@gmail.com.
Darby photo courtesy: Encyclopedia of Arkansas
