Jackson Progress-Argus

Jonathan Hulsey, of the Hulsey Monument Company in Tallapoosa, applies the stenciling to the wall before sandblasting the lettering.

Jackson — The City of Jackson’s new Veterans Memorial Park will be formally unveiled to the public Saturday, Nov. 12 beginning at 9 a.m., during a dedication event held prior to the Veterans Day Program.

The Veterans Day Program has been hosted in previous years at the Rufus Adams Auditorium.

The park is located on a triangular lot at the intersection of Third Street and Dempsey Avenue. The event is scheduled to conclude at about 11:30 a.m.

According to Jackson City Clerk Lara Brewer, the dedication ceremony for the park will begin promptly at 9 a.m. The dedication ceremony is scheduled to last 30 to 40 minutes and will include the lighting of the eternal flame, reading of veterans’ plaques, and a tribute to Butts County’s war casualties. Following the program for the dedication, Brewer said attendees will have about 20 minutes to tour the new park on their own accord prior to the start of the Veterans Day Program.

The Veterans Day Program will include songs from the Butts County Elementary School Salute the Veterans Choir (led by Jackson Elementary Music Teacher Martha Jo MacMahon) and a flyover by a Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopter. Veterans Committee Chairman Eddie Dumas, who has organized the program since 1997, said he expects one of the largest crowds since he has been in charge of the program.

The City of Jackson “sold 348 [engraved] plaques in the park, so we anticipate the largest crowd to date,” said Dumas, who expects many of those who purchased them to attend their unveiling.

According to Brewer, general parking will be available at Jackson United Methodist Church, 409 E. Third St., Sherrell Funeral Home, 212 E. College St., and city parking lots on Third Street and North Holley Street, and Third Street and Oak Street.

Brewer said handicap parking will be available at United Bible Church, 310 Third St., adjacent to the park itself. Jenco Golf Carts of Jenkinsburg has donated the use of three carts that will patrol the parking area to help those who need assistance to and from the parking area.

“We ask folks to come and bring your patience with you, because you might be doing a little bit of walking,” said Dumas.

Joining Dumas on the Veterans Program Committee are the Rev. Asa Thurman, of Flovilla, Nicholas Fitton, of Jackson, and Chester Shannon, of Jenkinsburg. Dumas said he has received a tremendous amount of support from the local community, and would like to thank everybody associated with the Veterans Day Program.

“This park would not be completed this year had it not been for [former] Mayor [Charlie] Brown, Wayne Phillips, and the rest of the City Council,” said Dumas. “I have had consistently great community help to do this program. That's why I like being a part of this community.”

Finally, Dumas asked for all of those who plan to attend to stay for the entirety of the program.

“We’re asking people to remain for the whole program, because the veterans have done their part,” said Dumas. “They’ve given their blood, and in some cases their very lives. The least we could do is to sit tight for a two- or three-hour program so that we can honor them. [Attendees] will be entertained by some very fun things. We’re not going to waste their time, and I think they’re going to enjoy everything that they’re going to see.”