Anchor ready to take place at Veterans Park

CLOVIS — Hooyah! Clovis' Veterans Park is getting a new monument thanks to community members, legislative funding and one determined Eagle Scout.

The naval anchor will be officially dedicated at 4:30 p.m. today at Veterans Park.

James Burroughes, 16, of Clovis said the project has taken two years and a lot of patience.

Ernie Kos, director of the Clovis/Curry Chamber of Commerce said, "I am quite impressed with his efforts. It's going to complete Veterans Park to include the Navy."

The addition of the anchor will accompany the existing memorials for the Army and Air Force, according to Assistant City Manager Claire Burroughes, who is James' mother.

American Veteran (AMVET) member and retired sailor Ran William Jr. said he is honored to have the Navy recognized and that he is excited to attend the dedication ceremony.

"It's a great honor for all veterans that we actually recognize all our military branches (in Clovis)," he said.

William said he served in Desert Storm and Iraq while enlisted from 1989 to 1997.

In all, it took over $21,000 of capital outlay funds from the state Legislature and donated funds to construct, load and ship the anchor to Clovis from Richmond, Virginia, according to Burroughes.

The 6,000-pound anchor arrived in Clovis accompanied by a parade of police and veterans escorting it to Veterans Park.

Burroughes said he was initially inspired to bring a naval memorial when he was in eighth grade and rode with his mom past the park.

"I initially wanted a landing craft," said Burroughes, "but the Navy was not too keen on letting one of those out, so my mother suggested an anchor."

Burroughes also said he chose this as his Eagle Scout project because he hopes to attend a service academy and see where that might lead him in the future.

"This whole experience helped me understand government processes, and what it takes to work with city and state projects (which is) an experience that will go with me for the rest of my life," Burroughes said.