The Fayetteville City Council on Feb. 19 tabled a request to establish a monument honoring the families of soldiers of all wars at Patriot Park to give the presenter time to bring a more defined proposal back to the council.
Above, members of the Fayetteville City Council at the February meeting. Photo/Ben Nelms.
Representing the current group Silent Warriors, Peachtree City resident Fairy Wortham asked to use the city’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit that created the Veterans Memorial at Patriot Park to collect donations for a new monument at the park or another location in the city that would honor the families of the soldiers of all American wars spanning nearly two centuries.
“No one has ever done anything like this, to honor the wives and families of all wars,” Wortham said. “The families at home suffer quietly.”
All on the council were receptive to the idea, though the project generated a number of questions.
Responding to questions from the council, Wortham said she is working on establishing a committee to bring the project to fruition, adding that she had done the preliminary work to establish a nonprofit.
Wortham agreed that, if the project were brought forward, the monument would be donated to the city.
Speaking in support of the project was former Council Larry Dell, who spearheaded the Veterans Memorial at Patriot Park. Dell said he could see various types of memorials at the park, essentially making it a patriotic destination.
Dell suggested the project might piggy-back on the city’s nonprofit that led to establishing the Veterans Memorial.
The discussion concluded with the council voting to table the item to give Wortham time to form a committee, provide more defined information and return with a plan that the council could consider.
Those interested in obtaining more information on the proposed project can contact Fairy Wortham at 770-629-2888.
The initiative is supported by the VFW, American Legion, Daughters of the American Revolution and Fayette County’s mayors.
