The Parrott rifles that once stood guard over soldiers past will soon return to a new memorial honoring those they have protected for so many years.

Tuesday, August 21, 2001

The Parrott rifles that once stood guard over soldiers past will soon return to a new memorial honoring those they have protected for so many years.

The Veterans Memorial at Woodland Cemetery is taking shape with concrete in place for the chevrons extending through the path and with plans to lay brick for the "Patriots Path."

So far, said committee chair Judge Frank McCown, 1,700 memorial bricks have been sold. About 3,000 bricks will be placed along the path which will occupy 800 square feet.

Plans are in the works to temporarily place the bricks purchased by those wishing to honor the deceased along the path. Then, the group plans to allow family members that bought bricks to go along the path and select which bricks they would like bundled together.

This way those that bought more than one brick can place family members and loved ones together. The group plans to make the day festive, refreshments will be served and actors dressed in period costumes will be at the cemetery.

The official dedication of the memorial park is scheduled for Veteran’s Day, November 11, with 2 p.m. scheduled as the tentative start time. The committee has sent invitations to George W. Bush, Gov. Bob Taft, and various other dignitaries. A jet fly over has also been scheduled for the dedication ceremony.

McCown said over 2,000 people, in some way, have contributed to the park which he said will stand has a permanent memorial to those that gave their life for their country.

During this year’s Flag Day ceremonies at the memorial, McCown said the memorial is significant because "we owe our freedom to the veterans, not the politicians, not the courts, not to judges, not to anybody else. Our freedom was won by the hard work and the blood of our veterans and they deserve to be honored."