Published: October 17, 2009 10:14 pm      

Park dedication part of GMS

LEWISBURG — The campus of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine was until 1972 the site of a different type of educational institution. Home of Greenbrier Military School from 1812 to 1972, the Lewisburg campus still retains some features that would be familiar to a graduate of any era.

One of the most memorable fixtures of the GMS campus was the full-size cannon that graced a position of honor under the flagpole in front of the imposing brick school building that still provides the formal entrance to WVSOM.

That cannon is now the centerpiece of the new Memorial Cannon Park on campus.

According to GMS Alumni Association official Herb Pearis of Lewisburg, the park is designed to contain about 1,000 memorial bricks, many of which will memorialize each GMS cadet who fell in service to his country.

“We’re still trying to identify every person who attended Greenbrier Military School who lost their life defending their country,” Pearis notes.

“We put down five bricks last year and will place 38 or so this year,” he added.

The new park was dedicated Friday evening, part of the annual GMS alumni reunion festivities.

Alumni converge from around the country for the reunion. Pearis points out alumni helping to kick off a leadership training session for Greenbrier County school principals and others on Thursday came from Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Florida, Pennsylvania and Maine.

“Lewisburg is a very special place for them,” Pearis says. “This is where they grew up. They went from children to boys to men here. They take pride in Lewisburg.”

In 2000, ground was broken on the WVSOM campus for a museum, housing GMS memorabilia of all kinds, from old photographs and yearbooks to uniforms and trophies.

“It’s our home and our history,” Pearis says. “We can never separate them out.”

Among GMS’ famous alumni are Congressman Alan Mollohan, restaurateur Bob Evans, Medal of Honor recipient Herbert Thomas, former Pineville resident and Virginia All-America basketball player Buzz Wilkinson and Ronceverte war hero Jock Clifford.

— E-mail: talvey@register-herald.com