FRANCONIA — In 1928, the Franconia Notch Forest Reservation and Memorial Park was dedicated as a memorial to the men and women of New Hampshire who served the country in times of war.

Since that time, a memorial stone has sat next to Profile Lake, a quiet reminder to all who come to the lake shore at the bottom of Cannon Mountain. On Friday, that memorial was moved from the northern end of the lake and placed on the grass terrace at the Old Man of the Mountain Profiler Plaza.

The memorial stone joins the only turnbuckle — which is about 30 feet long and weighs around 800 to 900 lbs. — that fell with the Old Man. The turnbuckle, hoisted from the talus slope last fall by helicopter, was placed on the raised ground near the seven Profilers several days earlier.

On Friday, Dick Hamilton, chair of the Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund, watched as men from Blastech Drilling & Blasting prepared the estimated seven-ton rock ready for its short journey. The Blastech crew — Tom Johnston, Randy Hardy, and Stan Richardson — jack hammered and split the off base of the rock, leaving part of it in the ground, like the roots of a tooth.

The men wrapped chains around the stone, protecting the plaques with heavy material coverings, and attached the chain to the shovel of an excavator driven by Buddy Boudle. The first try lifted the back end of the heavy machinery off its tracks, but after some adjustments, the stone was successfully skidded over to the landscaped island.

The work crew, including Dennis Thompson of Northern New England Field Services of Stewartstown, the general contractor for the work at the plaza, guided the stone in its place, after the stone was dragged up an earthen ramp. The ramp, built just minutes before, made it possible for the stone to be lifted up the island, which is bordered by a stone wall, with the landscaping at the height of the stone wall.

It was all recorded by Tom Mansfield, an architect with the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development, who serves as a legacy fund director. Michael Belanger of World Trading Co, in Littleton, was also a spectator, as he worked on engraving newly-placed stone pavers in the area of the profilers. Stone mason Jim Bolevic of Bethlehem, taking advantage of the blue skies, was on site working, too.

The plaza wasn't officially open, as work continues on Phase I of the Old Man memorial, but occasionally onlookers drifted down from the unsigned parking lot. Bob Johnston, of Candia, stopped by the plaza after calling the information center to see if anyone was up at the memorial site. He said he intends to purchase a 12 x 12 paver, and added his adult children would like their names included on it. Looking around at the rugged cliffs at the top of the notch, he said, the mountains “just get in your blood.”

Hamilton said the work at the plaza so far, including the profilers, has made a difference. About 520 granite pavers have been sold so far.

“Two years ago 20 to 25 people a day would just wander down here. Last year, we were seeing 300 to 500,” Hamilton said.

“Once they see it, they go 'Oh, I want to be there.'” Hamilton said. “We're selling three to four a week.”

There's room for more pavers, the funds from which will go towards the work at the site.

For more information, go to www.oldmanofthemountainlegacyfund.org.

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Sara Young-Knox may be reached at syoungknox@newstote.com.