Part of Berlin Wall may be placed in downtown Marietta park

MARIETTA - A portion of the Berlin Wall may soon become part of historic downtown Marietta in honor of General Lucius Clay, a Marietta native who commanded U.S. Army forces in Europe following World War Two. <br> <br> The ten-foot, 5,000 pound pillar of asphalt from the barricade that separated a free West from East Berlin was recently presented to the Clay family by the German city. <br> <br> The general&#39;s grandson, former state senator Chuck Clay, said ``This is a palpably real and sincere thanks from the people of Berlin. But it also represents something bigger and better, a sense that right will win. It&#39;s a great honor to have in Marietta.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Some old Mariettans have grumbled privately that the chunk of concrete painted blue and black with a yellow smiley-face will mar the character of downtown Glover Park and its towering elms, gazebo and fountain. <br> <br> But not Patti Pearlberg, a board member of Cobb County&#39;s Landmarks and Historical Society. <br> <br> She said, ``It&#39;s wonderful for Marietta to share in a piece of the world&#39;s history. I love Glover Park, and to have another little feature is wonderful.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Lucius Clay was born in Marietta in April 1897. He graduated from West Point and in 1947 became military governor of Germany and commander of U.S. forces in Europe. <br> <br> The Soviets blockaded West Berlin in 1948, but Clay insisted the United States and its allies not abandon the city&#39;s Western sector. He launched the Berlin Airlift, which dropped 2.3 million tons of food and coal into West Berlin. <br> <br> When he departed for the United States, Clay received a hero&#39;s sendoff in West Berlin with 500,000 Germans lining a parade route.