breaking news

A Local Hero Being Remembered

By: Bobbi Smith

Updated: January 8, 2013

Fort Smith City leaders have OK'ed a statue of General William Darby, a decorated WWII hero, to be erected 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, and 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 donation and that no city funding is being requested.

A formal announcement will be held on General Darby's birthday, February 8^th, solidifying the group's plans.

Darby led the famous Darby's Rangers which evolved into today's US Army Rangers and was also made famous as a major motion picture.

Armstrong says, 'General Darby was one of our hometown hero's' and that 'He changed the world in many ways with Rangers, Ranger history.'

767 went into Cisterna, Italy during WWII, and only 6 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 contact Liz Armstrong at 479.561.0493 or darbydays.liz@gmail.com.

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