More than 400 Fayette County residents have given their lives in the wars fought by the United States. And a project is underway to pay respect to those who gave their last full measure of devotion to the nation they served and the county they called home. Fund-raising efforts are ongoing for the Fayette County Veterans Memorial at Patriot Park located on Redwine Road.
Fayetteville Councilman Larry Dell and VFW Post 3650 Commander Ron Stubbs were at the site April 27 and provided an overview of the plans for the memorial.
“What makes this memorial different is that each of these soldiers were born and raised and died as a resident of Fayette County,” Dell said.
The memorial will feature a polished, black granite obelisk noting the five branches of the service and will be flanked on each side with a monument wall, also of polished black granite. The obelisk is expected to rise approximately 10 feet off the ground while the two walls will be 4 feet by 10 feet on a 1-foot base.
“It’s polished so that, along with seeing the names, you can see yourself,” Dell said, noting that the memorial design represents the immeasurable loss of life and its reflection in our lives.
The concept plan for the memorial shows it located close to Redwine Road and situated along the walking path near the roadway. The memorial will be positioned along a new arc pathway and will include a dedication plaque and an American flag.
Dell said one of the walls will contain the names of veterans of the War Between the States while the other will contain the names of the soliders of all the nation’s remaining wars. In all there will be more than 400 names engraved on the walls.
The Veterans Memorial at Patriot Park had its genesis nearly five years ago as a project of Leadership Fayette. The memorial is a city project, though there are no funds allocated for it. That means the funding will have to come from individuals, companies or organizations. To date the project has received approximately $12,000, with the Fayetteville Rotary Club donating $5,000 as a platinum sponsor. The total project cost is estimated at $100,000, including in-kind donations.
The goal, said Dell, is to create a memorial where people will come to honor those in died in past wars, to reflect on the humanity in the after-effects of those wars and to admire the soldiers who had the courage to risk their lives to save others.
“This is something we need to do because we need to honor our vets, especially those who paid the ultimate price,” Dell said. “A vet is someone who, at some point in time, raised a hand and took an oath to protect the United States. That price of protecting us is up to and including giving his life. One reason I’m passionate about this project is because two of the names that will be on the wall were men who took my place.”
Patriot Park has become a customary venue for passive recreation and includes approximately 8 acres donated by Bob Rolader and Brent Scarbrough during the development of an adjacent subdivision.
The Veterans Memorial at Patriot Park is a non-profit corporation. All donations will be appreciated. Donations are also available in bronze, silver, gold and platinum sponsorship categories. Those interested in making a tax-deductible donation are asked to contact Larry Dell at 404-379-8825 or Fayetteville City Hall at 770-461-6029 or at www.fayetteville-ga.gov.
