After attending the dedication ceremony for Foley’s Centennial Plaza, it’s clear to me the value in a civic monument isn’t in the bricks and mortar; it’s in the people and the place it represents.

On Thursday morning, members of the Foley community turned out to celebrate the dedication of their hometown’s new plaza and clock tower.

The plaza, which sits just north of the intersection of U.S. 98 and Alabama 59, features the new metal clock tower which stands 52 feet tall, features 32 brass bells that can play some 10,000 songs.

Bricks and concrete blocks around the tower’s base are engraved with the names of Foley businesses, churches and individuals, both past a present.

Instead of gathering at the tower’s base, frigid temperatures forced the ceremony inside to the warmer confines of the Foley Civic Center.

In spite of the cold temperatures and a change in venue, hundreds of citizens joined their elected officials in celebrating the dedication that was years in the making.

It was great to see a mid-week mid-day civic event that had people standing around the perimeter of the civic center.

People obviously wanted to be there. This plaza is more than steel and brick and brass to the people of Foley.

Foley Major John Koniar said the plaza is a gift for all residents of the city, both now and in the future.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Koniar said. “Great community support and participation have made it one of the biggest achievements the community has had. It’s something, as I have said, that the past, present and future generations can celebrate today.”

JaNay Dawson, who led the Centennial Committee’s fundraising efforts, echoed Koniar’s sentiment that the citizens’ monetary donations helped make the plaza a reality.

“I would be so remiss, if I did not thank the individuals and businesses and citizens of this city who bought those bricks and columns in memory of their church, loved ones, in honor of someone,” Dawson said. “Those are the people who stood up and said it’s important that we preserve our history.”

I have only lived in Baldwin County since early September, so I wasn’t here for the years of planning, preparation and fundraising into making Thursday’s dedication a reality, but it hasn’t taken long to see how much the residents think of their hometown.

They see their past, present and future here.

Many of the people who attended Thursday’s ceremony have spent decades here.

Others have settled here more recently. But looking at the faces of those in the crowd, all looked the same; they were proud of the city’s new plaza and clock tower.

More than that, they were proud to call Foley home.

Something tells me that has always been the case here.

Jay Sowers is photo editor of Gulf Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at jay@gulfcoastmedia.com.