Ceremony opens renovated Greenwood Square, new Veteran’s Memorial

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by The City Wire staff ([email protected]) May 31, 2011 12:25 pm 93 views 

story and photo by Theresa Burtchett

The Greenwood Square was filled Monday evening (May 30) with people eager for their first look at the redesigned Memorial Square and its new feature, the Greenwood Veteran’s Memorial.

The Veteran’s Memorial was dedicated during a ceremony on Memorial Day in honor of the men and women from the area, who served and those who are currently serving in all branches of the military.

“The reason we are able to stand in this park tonight without fear is because of the men and women who have served our country,” said Doug Kinslow, Greenwood Director of Parks. Kinslow also noted that yellow ribbons were placed in the park as a reminder of those currently fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The evening included a keynote address by Major General William D. Wofford, Adjutant General of the Arkansas National Guard, and a fly over by a C-130 from the 189th Air National Guard out of Little Rock. Wofford complimented Greenwood for a Memorial service that compared to those he attended in Little Rock.

Wofford noted from the Revolutionary War to present, 650,000 people have given their lives in service to the United States. He also mentioned less than 1% of our population serves in uniform.

The Veteran’s Memorial will feature walkways lined with granite stones, purchased by family and friends in honor of someone who served. There are 360 stones to be installed by the Greenwood VFW and other volunteers. The center section will have names of Veterans on a wall around the clock tower. Richard McKinney, chairman of the Veteran’s Memorial Committee, estimates the names, submitted by the local VFW and citizen, should be installed this fall.

The City obtained $140,000 grant from the Department of Rural Services and a $10,000 grant from Arkansas Veteran’s Administration through Sebastian County, to construct the memorial. In addition community contributions and purchased stones total more than $60,000. Labor for landscaping, cleaning and installation of benches have been donated.