MANTI—Take the Oath, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting individuals and families who have taken an oath to support their country, has partnered with local legislators and sponsors to raise money for a memorial statue in Manti.
The statue is currently in the design stage. Plans call for it to be placed adjacent to the Sanpete County Fairgrounds. But with an estimated cost of about $100,000, the memorial is a long-range project.
The memorial would honor anyone who has taken the oath to serve or protect their community. This includes but is not limited to active military members, veterans, firefighters, city council members, police officers and EMTs.
Some time ago, Utah Rep. Steve Lund and Sanpete County reached out to Utah Farm Bureau with the idea of hosting an event to raise money for the memorial. The Farm Bureau allowed the county to use its tax-exempt nonprofit organization called Miracle of Agriculture.
Once Maverik and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) heard what the memorial was for, they volunteered to join as sponsors. The PRCA agreed to hold its Extreme Bull Riding Show as the entertainment. The event was also sponsored by CO Building Systems, Driving Ag Solutions, Host Motel, and State Bank of Southern Utah, among others.
The Extreme Bull Riding event took place on Memorial Day at the Sanpete County Fairgrounds. It was performed by members of the PRCA who had qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo multiple times. Estimated attendance was 2,000-3,000.
“We’re really grateful to those who supported us,” Lund said. “It was a big success and we hope we can continue to support those who have taken an oath.”
The memorial has no deadline or projected completion date at this point.
