Windfall dedicates monument

By MEGHAN DURBAK
Tribune staff writer

April 18, 2009 10:23 pm

— WINDFALL — Of the roughly 900 people living in the town of Windfall, many hold different faith-based and political beliefs.
But on March 15, more than 100 residents gathered at the Windfall Community Building to dedicate the newly erected Ten Commandments Monument.
The monument, located along Ind. 213, just north of the old railroad crossing, is located on property once owned by John and Margaret Osborn. Their daughter and son-in-law, Linda and David Cator, were present, as well as several grandchildren.
Every church in Windfall was involved in the project. Clergy and lay members of Windfall Christian Church, Windfall United Methodist Church, Windfall Pentecostal Church, Hazel Dell Friends Church, First Salem Baptist Church and Windfall Church of the Brethren all worked to finance and support the project. Representatives of the town board were also present.
The churches worked in conjunction with the Ten Commandments Committee of Madison County. The committee has placed monuments in Anderson, Elwood, Frankton, Pendleton, Lapel and Tipton. The committee plans to place a monument in Kempton later this year.
“Every church for the first time in several years got involved in the project,” said the Rev. Carl Roudebush, of Windfall Christian Church. “Many members of the community were interested and became supportive of the project.
“There’s a general sense we need structure in our society and our young people need guidance in their lives.”
The project began in October. Roudebush said it found a strong support base almost immediately, including several thousand dollars in donations that came in within the first two weeks.
He said he was amazed at the community support. It exceeded his expectations.
“People just feel our society is in real trouble,” Roudebush said. “We have to do something. There’s a lot of frustration because the government limits what churches and God’s people can say publicly, what can be done publicly.”
Roudebush said the Ten Commandments are important to both Christian and Jewish societies.
“They’re really the foundational laws of all societies in the world,” he said. “Respect for God and others is basically what they’re about. They’re really the founding principles of even our nation.”
As people drive through Windfall, he hopes this monument will serve as a moral reminder to them.
“My particular goal is to see generations to come know what we believe in and how to conduct their life.”