We don’t often think about it, but the life of a Park Ranger is at times filled with dangerous situations. Some rangers even get killed in the line of duty.
I came across this memorial at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. It’s a memorial to U.S. Park Ranger James Alexander Cary, which was installed on Memorial Day during the 100th anniversary of Hot Springs National Park. In 1927 Mr. Cary became the first National Park Ranger killed in the line of duty at the hands of bootleggers. Ranger Carey had served in the U.S. Navy during World War I and had been a Park Ranger since 1923.
(Last weekend’s One Clue Mystery photo)
The memorial consists of a bronze plaque on a Novaculite boulder, capped with the iconic Park Ranger hat. A photo of that hat was used as last weekend’s One Clue Mystery photo. It was recognized by Sylvia Gionet and George G — congratulations to both.
The memorial is at the corner of Central Avenue and Reserve Street. There are similar memorials to other fallen rangers in other national parks.
