PRESIDENT GARRETT HONORED
Norris Garrett was publicly thanked for his dedicated
service to the Veterans Memorial Park by the CCVMP Committee at the June 24,
2013 meeting. Violette Denney
representing the Committee had the honor of presenting Mr. Garrett a history
book: “Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park – Early Years.” In addition to the book, a brick will be
inscribed and placed at the Park: “NORRIS GARRETT THANKS – CCVMP-C.” He was recognized for his many years as park
president and credentials chairman. He
has worked closely with all landscapers and contractors.
Since the presentation was at the end of the meeting,
members did not have the opportunity to review the book. A brief description is being furnished here
for your information.
These dates were noted in the front: First Meeting –
November 1999; Groundbreaking November 11, 2ooo; Dedication – November 10, 2001
(Violette became membership chairman – early 2003)Preface: “Our symbol of Appreciation” – that is what it is all about! We are grateful to all our troops and veterans for fighting for and preserving our precious freedoms. Our men and women, as well as their families, have sacrificed tremendously to keep our country free. We know freedom is not free! We know every veteran will not choose to have their name on the Wall of Honor – but it is our hope that each one will elect to have their name posted and be recognized for their patriotic service.
This book is to record the journey taken during the first years of the development of the Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park. Some of the earliest records are not available, so I will include as much as I can to make it complete. We have had numerous donations and contributions to make the park possible……. We appreciate every one! The donated time, talent, materials, and money all added together total over a MILLION dollars. We have a MILLION DOLLAR PARK and it is accessible to everyone 24/7.
It is our hope that parents, teachers, and leaders will take advantage of every opportunity to introduce the park to our children and help them understand the importance of being patriotic and showing our appreciation to the men and women who are putting themselves in harm’s way every day to make it possible for us to enjoy living the American Dream – especially those who gave their life! It is extremely important that we help the veterans who are returning from the war zone with injuries and try to make their lives as comfortable as possible. Students should learn about their ancestors and their service – honor them for volunteering to serve. Each veteran has a unique service record and we need to know about their contributions to our American Heritage.
The park committee hosts two programs at the park each year – Memorial and Veteran’s Day. Everyone in our entire area is invited to come and enjoy the music and listen to an outstanding speaker. It is usually on the Saturday nearest the designated holiday, at 10 A.M. The park is open for other programs throughout the year and several groups have scheduled events there. Contact a member of the park committee and let your request be known. http://carrollcountyveteransmemorialpark.com http://carrollcountyveteransmemorialpark.blogspot.com By: Violette Harris Denney
HISTORY:
The Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park Committee has been busy for several
years and it is showing. “IT IS A
VISIBLE SYMBOL OF OUR APPRECIATION.” The Park is designed as a tribute to the
many sons and daughters who have served and/or died for this great nation.
MISSION
STATEMENT: The Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park Committee’s mission is to
plan, build, equip and maintain a park to honor military veterans of the United
States of America who are currently living in Carroll County, who have lived in
Carroll County at some time, or who have Carroll County connections and who
honorably served their country. We, all
volunteers, want to promote patriotism and to provide recognition to veterans
of all U. S. A. Military Forces, past, present, and future.
Our
goal is to raise funds and accept donations to support the establishment and
maintenance of a Veterans Memorial Park as a non-profit organization.
GOALS
AND OBJECTIVES: Our main priority is to provide the Veterans of Carroll County
an appropriate memorial. We want to have
a prestigious place to assemble for Memorial and Veteran’s Day Programs, as
well as a place for individuals and families to have a quiet place to remember
their loved ones. Our goal is to make
this the prettiest and most impressive place in Carroll County because that is
what our Veterans and Troops deserve.
Eventually we want to have funds available to care for the park and
continue to add names as long as there are wars in which Americans serve their
country.
HISTORY:
The first meeting was in November 1999.
Carroll County Commission Chairman Jack Bell worked with the committee
to select an appropriate site for the park.
A lot of planning, organizing, and contacting people filled that first
year, which culminated in a groundbreaking ceremony on November 11, 2000 at the
park. In April 2001 grading work began
to prepare for the park development. The
flagpole was installed in July 2001 and a walkway from the parking lot to the
flagpole was constructed. Footings for
the first 16 walls were poured October 2001. Ray Roddenberry, a U.S. Navy
Veteran, served as Architect/Designer and Project Manager for the Park as long
as his health permitted. The Park was
dedicated on November 10, 2001, with Georgia State Senator Max Cleland as the
keynote speaker. The decision was made
to make the Veterans’ plaques out of Georgia Cherokee White Marble, from Tate,
Georgia. These plaques measure 16 inches high by 16 inches wide. Currently these are purchased from Tennessee
Marble Co., Friendship, Tennessee (Near Knoxville). These walls are trimmed
with polished black granite to match the other walls and the sign in front of
the park near the road.
The
following paragraph was copied from a booklet listing the veterans names on the
first three Walls of Honor with their service description, “The Site and Design
Committee, chaired by Mr. Roddenberry, is made up of Association officers and
representatives of each of the mainstream veteran’s organizations. They are Ray Roddenberry, Nellie Duke, Henry
Duke, Ferrice Blackwood, Hugh Lee Young, G. C. Burson, M. T. Fuller, Jr., Peggy
Kilpatrick, Frank Jones, Bill Maddox, and Tommy Johnson. The Credentials Committee is chaired by
Norris Garrett, and includes members of the Executive Committee.”
Note from Norris Garrett: “Dan Currin was Sammy Robinson’s partner from the start until his death. When the election was held in February 2003, Garrett was nominated from the floor and was elected Chairman. He was appointed Vice Chair by Nellie Duke and elected Vice Chair on February 26, 2001. The first Chairman was Nellie Duke; Vice Chair, Donald Allen; Secretary, Henry Duke; Treasurer, Sallie Burson; First Chaplain, Peggy Kilpatrick. Walls designs were still on-going in 2001. In a letter dated January 25, 2002 Ray Rodenberry agreed on the first two walls and a contract was signed February 28, 2002 with Eternal Mfg. Co. (Sammy and Dan). Nellie Duke was presented a plaque at the first meeting conducted by Norris Garrett as Chair – April 21, 2003. On March 24, 2oo3 Eddie Gains started as Treasurer. In July 2003 sidewalks were done by Mike Norton.”
The
KIA (Killed-in-Action) Walls of Honor were created between October 8,
2004 and January 26, 2005. The KIA Walls
are up to date and contain all the Carroll County Veterans of all the US Wars
beginning with the American Revolution that we were able to verify. These walls contain names from the following:
194 War Between the States, 19 WW I, 92 WW II, 10 Korea, 14 Vietnam and 5 Iraq
which total 334 in all. “A Veteran is
someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to ‘The
United States’ for an amount up to and including his life.”
The
Contributor Wall of Honor has been constructed using polished black
granite and is being updated as new contributors qualify. It contains the names of those who gave $500
or more toward building the park.
Without these patriotic citizens, we would not have a park. This wall was added in 2007.
Bricks line the walkways and each one has a name of on individual, who purchased the brick for $50 to show their support of the Veterans and the Memorial Park. Currently we have 796 engraved. Some of these have a veteran’s name but anyone can have their name on a brick. Contact a member of the Veterans Park Committee for a blank request form. Children really get excited to have their name on a brick. These make wonderful gifts including memorial or honorary gifts.
Landscaping in the park has added
to its beauty and for that we have to thank many contributors. It was a tremendous job which could only be
done after the large, heavy walls were put in place. Sandra Veirling, landscape architect,
volunteered her time and expertise to create a plan which could be executed in
phases, as we could raise the funds.
We
have raised and spent well over one half million and when you add the volunteer
hours and materials you can definitely say we have a MILLION DOLLAR PARK!
The
Memorial Park reminds us of the importance of honoring the brave men and women
of the US Military Forces – past, present, and future. We want them to know
that we are grateful for the enormous sacrifices they made for the freedoms we
enjoy every day. I hope it will continue
to inspire everyone to support our troops and veterans.
We are a Non-Profit Organization approved by the IRS under the Code Section 501© (3). All contributions are tax deductible.
Violette
Denney said, “I believe that heroes are the people who do what has to be done,
when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. Veterans are our heroes! Please consider the ones who served and now
live with injuries for the rest of their lives.
Remember the park is built to be accessible by everyone and is open
24/7. I have been actively involved in
the Park since early 2003. Therefore, I may have omitted information that
should have been included or may have some dates inaccurately recorded but I
tried to include everything to the best of my ability. Some records were not
available or incomplete. I served as
membership chairman during 2003, 2004, and 2005 and prepared a Directory for
easy reference. In 2006, I was elected
Treasurer and assisted with many other tasks
posted by Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park, Georgia @ 2:16 PM
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