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Crews from the Washington Parish Government have recently been out to the Our Veterans Memorial Park site — removing trees, stumps and debris.

Our Veterans Memorial Park site is a 3.8-acre tract of land in Washington Parish, located at 54042 Dollar Road at Highway 10 in Franklinton. The creation of this project was generated from the highly successful and supportive fund balance from “The Wall That Heals” in November of 2018. Committee members meet monthly to push forward with plans for the construction.

Phase I of the project is ongoing and includes fundraising, preparation, and construction of the main plaza. The main plaza and walkways will be a designed area with a variety of trees, paths, engraved brick memorials, benches, the American flag, State of Louisiana flag, POW MIA flag, monuments, and flags depicting each branch of the military, and memorials designed to inspire and encourage visitors to stay and make return visits. It will be a place of celebration, ceremony, and solemn remembrance in honor of those who have given military service for our great country.

Funding for the project comes from community donations, NGO funding, memorial bricks, tee shirt and cap sales, along with planned fundraiser events. You can order personalized bricks to pay tribute or honor a veteran, loved one, organization, etc. Different colors of T-shirts and caps are also for sale.

You can order from the website by visiting www.ourvetspark.org, or message any committee member. Purchases may also be made by visiting the offices of State Sen. Beth Mizell and Attorney Bill Arata. All proceeds raised will go toward the construction of Our Veterans Memorial Park.

You can also help support our park by choosing OVMP, Inc. as your charitable organization, when a loved one passes, when you shop Smile Amazon, or when you post a fund raiser to celebrate a birthday on Face Book.

Donations should be submitted to “P.O. Box 326 Franklinton, LA 70438.” Checks are to be made payable to “Our Veterans Memorial Park.”

Be sure to join for the first Memorial Day program on Monday, May 31, at 9 a.m. at the site of the park. Bring your chair and pay tribute to the fallen — those who died serving in the military. Many veterans would agree this is not a day to thank a living veteran, as that federal holiday is on Nov. 11. Memorial Day is a time to pause and reflect and honor those who died serving our country.

Committee members of “Our Veterans Memorial Park” include Joey Roberts as President, Phillipp Bedwell as Vice President, Joannie Miller as Secretary, Tammy Magruder as Treasurer, State Sen. Beth Mizell, Matt Parker and Lynette Sharp. Penny Jones is on the Fundraising Committee and Robby Stringfield is on the Construction Committee.