A crisp fall breeze and clear skies set the stage for the Nov. 14 rededication of Patriot Park on Redwine Road in Fayetteville where more than 100 people assembled in a solemn ceremony to reinvigorate the park’s purpose and to honor the fallen.
Though the ceremony began at 9 a.m., the hours leading up the event saw a flurry of activity from veterans groups from across the area, all in preparation for the official proceedings.
U.S. Navy veteran and Fayetteville Councilman Ed Johnson served as master of ceremonies at the rededication.
The keynote speaker at the event was former Councilman and U.S. Army veteran Larry Dell.
“Whether from an ideal or patriotism, each (military service member) knows that freedom is not free and they willingly pay that price,” Dell said. “That is honor, and there were way too many people in this country who no longer understand this basic principle. The U.S. Constitution guarantees our freedoms while the veteran protects the rights of speech, religion and our pursuit of happiness.”
Dell noted the efforts of those who made the memorial at Patriot Park possible. Citing the memorial wall containing the names of fallen Fayette County residents, Dell said no names have been added since 2013.
“My prayer would be that no parents mourn their son or daughter killed in battle, no child accepts the flag of their parent and that no new names are added to these walls,” said Dell.
Mayor Greg Clifton in his remarks said those assembled will never be able to show enough appreciation for the efforts of the military, especially for those who laid down their lives.
Also offering comments was Georgia Military College Director Brigadier General Rock Donahue (U.S. Army Ret.). Donahue during his remarks said he could see and feel the camaraderie, patriotism and community support for veterans as evidenced in the more than 100 people who attended the ceremony.
Color in the form of flowers in full bloom was made possibile by the Fayette Master Gardners group that has made significant contributions to the park.
Formerly opened in June 2006, the eight-acre Patriot Park site and development was a donation from Scarbrough and Rolader Development and Jeff Betsill Homes.
It was on Veterans Day in 2013 that the Fayette County Veterans Memorial was unveiled. Spearheaded by Dell and others, the memorial among other features includes a polished, black granite obelisk noting the five branches of the service.
“What makes this memorial different is that each of these soldiers was born and raised and died as a resident of Fayette County,” Dell said at the 2013 ceremony.
The goal for the memorial, said Dell, was to create a place where people will come to honor those in died in past wars, to reflect on the humanity of 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 in 2013. “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 on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., were men who took my place.”
