Veterans park closer to becoming reality

A groundbreaking ceremony will soon be held for a Cherokee County Veterans Appreciation Park.

The Cherokee County Veterans Day Organization has raised $270,000 towards the estimated $500,000 project cost. The majority of the money has come from a $200,000 grant from the state's competitive grants program.

Money has been raised from donations and the sale of merchandise such as Tshirts, hats and booklets.

The park will have walkways and walls engraved with the names of all local veterans who have been honorably discharged. The names of all veterans whose honorable discharge has been registered with the Cherokee County Veterans Affairs Office will be included.

Park benches have already been donated. Flags representing all military branches will be flown at the park.

The veteran's park will located next to the Cherokee County Veterans Museum and Irene Park at the site of the former Gaffney Fire Department substation on Montgomery Street.

The city of Gaffney is completing demolition work on the fire department substation to make way for the park. Park construction will begin immediately after the building is completely razed.

"We hope to hold a groundbreaking for the veterans park within the month. We wish it was sooner," Cherokee County Veterans Affairs Officer Sammy Willard said. "We have already ordered the granite walls that will contain the names of veterans. We have made provisions to add more names for future veterans."

The current goal is to finish the veterans park in time for next year's Veterans Day.

Anyone who wishes to have a veteran's name included should contact the veteran's office to check the status of that person's discharge registration. The VA office must have an original copy of the discharge in its records before a veteran's name can be added.

For more information, call Willard at the Veterans Affairs Office at 487-2579.