COLUMBUS-The Polk County Board of Commissioners is considering placing a new flagpole at the doughboy statue on Courthouse Street in Columbus to honor veterans.

Commissioners met Monday, Nov. 7 and approved by a 4-1 vote to erect a flagpole, contingent on gaining approval from the Town of Columbus, the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Duke Energy.

Commissioner Ted Owens placed the item on the agenda, saying he has had several requests to put one there to commemorate past and future veterans.

Owens said the county should never forget those who paid the supreme price or those who served during peace time.

“We need to also understand it’s a sacrifice,” Owens said.

He said “three of us” have been in service and when service people go away from their families it’s for long periods of time.

“We need to honor these people,” Owens said.

Owens also said he’s already spoken to someone with Discover Columbus and that committee is in favor and he’s spoken with Columbus Town Manager Tim Barth, who has agreed to take it before town council if the county approves the flagpole.

Commissioners also approved a budget amendment to fund the flagpole, not to exceed $3,500.

Commissioner Ray Gasperson voted against the flagpole, saying he is absolutely in favor of honoring veterans, but wants to make sure the county has a good “buy-in” with residents.

Gasperson said he spearheaded the effort to get a painting approved for the Womack building lobby of Bryant Womack, a Polk veteran for whom the building is named. 

Gasperson said with the courthouse wall, which was recently completed and he voted against, he had numerous people talk to him about it and not one person was glad the county spent money on the wall. Gasperson said the wall looks fantastic and it was very professionally done, but the county didn’t have community buy-in at the time.

“This is a Columbus street,” Gasperson said. “You’d be putting a flagpole in the middle of the street.”

He said he wants more information on the height and power lines prior to approving the flagpole.

Owens said if the town, DOT and Duke Energy don’t approve of the flagpole, it won’t be put up.

Commissioner chair Michael Gage said for the town to think the county is serious, commissioners need to put their money where their mouth is.

Gasperson asked if there is any question of liability risks and who would be responsible since the flagpole will be in the middle of a street that’s maintained by Columbus.

County attorney Jana Berg said the county would need to entertain an agreement with the town as to who is responsible to maintain it and that the town agrees for the county to put a flagpole in their space.

Commissioner Keith Holbert said he thought all that was in the motion, to get approval from the town, approval from the DOT and approval from Duke Energy.

“I’m not sure what there is to hammer out,” Holbert said.

Commissioner Shane Bradley said he, too, was concerned about the power lines but thinks the way the motion is being read the county is not going to proceed unless everyone is on board.

Berg said an agreement will be needed as to who manages the flagpole, who raises and lowers it, etc. She said she could come up with an agreement and bring it back to the next meeting.

The Doughboy statue

The statue faces west at the corner of Courthouse Street and West Mills Street in downtown Columbus. It is a marble statue of an infantryman, who stands with his 09 Springfield rifle, field gear, a knapsack slung over his shoulder and a bayonet attached to his belt. The statue stands atop a column of Polk County field and river stones. The doughboy was erected through fundraising efforts of W.A. Cannon and the school children in Polk County, dedicated to the Polk County men who did not return from World War I.

The monument is dedicated to the memory of Levi Butler, Jessie Lewis, Wallace Lankford, Zibo Wilson, Lawson Williams, Ralph Walker and Columbus Constant, who paid the supreme sacrifice for their home and country and also all those who served in the world war from Polk County.

The Doughboy statue was erected in 1920.