On Saturday, I witnessed the groundbreaking for the Newton County Veterans Memorial Park on Hwy. 15 in Decatur.
While the park is located in Decatur it is something that the entire county should be proud of. Newton County is one of the more patriotic areas of the state, possibly even the U.S, and with good reason. Our county has such a strong connection to the military and veterans being so close to the military base in Meridian. We have a National Guard armory, and the Guard’s maintenance shop sits just a few yards from this new park.
And Little Rock native Randy C. Reeves is the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs within the Department of Veterans Affairs in the Trump administration. So Newton County and veterans go hand in hand.
We have the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Newton, but there wasn’t something here to honor our living veterans, and that is what the Newton County Veterans Memorial Park is.
And you still have the chance to honor a loved one in the new park. Park officials continue to sell engraved bricks that will be integrated into the construction of the park.
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.
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.
This is a great way to say thank you to veterans, and it is a way to help preserve the story of our veterans.
Brent is the publisher of The Newton County Appeal. He can be reached at bmaze@newtoncountyappeal.com.
