Newton County residents will honor veterans Saturday at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Veterans Memorial Park on Highway 15 south of Decatur.
Johnny Reeves, who is leading the effort to build the park, said all residents and veterans are invited to come out to the park, which borders the American Legion Hut, at 1 p.m. to help kick off the park with a short ceremony and refreshments.
“Stacey Pickering will be the guest speaker,” he said. “She’s the head of Mississippi Veterans Affairs.”
Joining Pickering at the event will be Rep. Randy Rushing, Decatur Mayor David Marshall and other local officials, Reeves said.
Last week, Decatur public works crews helped cut down a large tree and remove the stump in preparation for the groundbreaking. Reeves said the Veterans Memorial Park board is grateful for all the help the town has given them in procuring the land and helping prepare for the construction phase, which is now underway.
“We’ve already been doing some construction,” he said. “We’re hoping to start hauling dirt by June, weather permitting.”
The Veterans Memorial Park is also continuing to sell engraved bricks that will be integrated into the construction of the park.
“The criteria is anyone who has lived in Newton County. They could’ve lived in Newton County and served. The could live here now or have passed on. This is for living veterans, passed veterans, any war from World War I up until the current conflict,” Reeves said previously.
Two brick sizes are available, a 4-inch by 8-inch, which costs $40, and an 8-inch by 8-inch, which costs $60. The proceeds from the brick sales will go toward park construction and maintenance.
Although bricks will continue to be available for the foreseeable future, Reeves said residents are encouraged to place their orders so that a good amount can be placed in the initial construction.
“We’ll have a booth set up at the hut where people can purchase a brick,” Reeves said.
Bricks can be ordered from the Newton Chamber of Commerce, Decatur Chamber of Commerce, Union Chamber of Commerce, Newton County Veterans Service Office or from any American Legion member. Residents can also email ncveteranpark@gmail.com or visit the group’s Facebook page, @ncveteranpark, to get an order form.
If all goes according to plan and weather cooperates, Reeves said the park should be open and ready for visitors by mid-November.
