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Honoring our Veterans
Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: 2018/05 - May
“We shall never be silent about our passions and our heroes.”
These words spoken by Martin Luther King take on a very personal meaning when you take a few minutes to visit the Highlands Veterans Memorial Garden in front of the Highlands Police Station on Oak Street.
Tucked into a tiny space between the Police Station and Oak Street this unassuming little space of land is the perfect memorial for Highlanders who have so valiantly served our country. Local veterans are honored here with memorial bricks and the Veterans Memorial Stone.
At first glance it seems a quaint place for a quick picnic or respite from the hustle and bustle of downtown, but you quickly realize that this place represents so much more. So many from this area have served our country in every branch of our armed services, and this Memorial Garden brings their service to life.
Made possible by a generous donation from Ray and Diane McPhail in 2016 and the efforts of the Leadership Highlands Class of 2015-16, the memorial garden took shape when Highlander Kenny Talley moved the Veterans Memorial Stone from the corner of Sixth and Main to become the Garden’s focal point. The brick project is an outreach of Highlands American Legion Post 370 with the grateful assistance of Tate Landscaping.
The short path of brick pavers through the garden beckons one to walk and remember the shoulders upon which our freedoms were built. Currently 67 personalized bricks contain the names of servicemen who have served our country, and efforts are under way to add more memorial bricks to this path. To date, 40 more have been purchased and will be dedicated in place by Memorial Day this month.
Volunteer Anne Tate, whose father Curt Wilson served in the US Navy in World War II, is working hard toward having as many memorial bricks as possible in place by Veterans Day. These bricks may be purchased for $50 a brick with each additional brick being $40 and are the perfect way to honor local veterans and memorialize their service. Payment can be made to American Legion Post 370.
