Editor, We had a well-attended Veterans Memorial Walk groundbreaking on Saturday, Nov. 7. It is exciting to see four years of work come to fruition.

It is exciting to know Hinesville-Fort Stewart-Liberty County will now have a memorial park for veterans of all services.

We are thankful to the Glenn E. and Trudi Bryant Foundation and the city of Hinesville for making this 3½-acre site available for this memorial. The walk will be a place of reverence, respect and reflection to honor all military veterans.

Entry to the Veterans Memorial Walk will be marked with a monument and the American flag. Guests will follow a circular trail winding counterclockwise around two lakes. The reflection areas will be marked with benches and military crests of all branches of service and the Liberty Independent Troop.

A sandblasted glass-cube monument inscribed with words of character distinction will overlook a serene lake and will represent veterans of the United States military. In addition, a special monument will be erected in the lake to honor America’s missing in action and prisoners of war.

As a Purple Heart Vietnam veteran who did not get a welcome home until this year, 50 years later, I want to see this memorial completed and dedicated on Veterans Day 2016.

I ask the civilian and military communities to step forward and contribute to this memorial. You can purchase a 6-inch-by-12-inch granite paver and have it engraved to honor and pay tribute to someone special in your life. Paver sizes go up to 24 inches by 24 inches. There are benches and tree sites available also. Visit our website at www.veteransmemorialhinesville.com for details or give me a call at 912-572-4300.

This patriotic, emotional memorial will attract visitors from near and far. With such a prominent military presence in this area, the Veterans Memorial Walk will be a place of pride for local residents and military veterans.

Please call today. Don’t come to the dedication on Veterans Day 2016 and not see a paver for you or a special person you would like to thank for their service.

Thanks,
George W. Holtzman
U.S. Army veteran, 1966-69