Construction is underway at property on corner of Oak and Main streets that will honor local war heroes
If you are interested in honoring a veteran with a brick in the Founder’s Circle at the Somerset Veterans Memorial Park downtown, time is of the essence.
The Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) is issuing a last call for purchasing bricks in this area of the park — Founder’s Circle will surround the American flag on site — as well as trees and benches that honor local war heroes and service members with placards. The deadline to purchase is Friday, Sept. 16.
“The outpouring of support for this park from our community has been incredible,” SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler said. “From First & Farmers National Bank’s title sponsorship to the many businesses, organizations and individuals who have purchased bricks, trees and benches, this space on the corner of Oak and Main streets is going to be a beautiful gem that honors the men and women who have sacrificed so much to serve their country.”
A first-of-its-kind effort in downtown Somerset dedicated to honoring local veterans, Somerset Veterans Memorial Park is a partnership between the City of Somerset and SPEDA. The park’s significance is three-fold — not only will it honor local veterans, but it will beautify downtown and help with persistent drainage challenges by creating a stormwater retention system beneath the park. Construction on that retention system has been the first priority and is nearly complete, Girdler said.
Now the focus will be on building the visible amenities to the park. Its star attraction, as shown in detailed architectural renderings, will be a military tank set atop a platform adorned with the words “United We Stand,” emblems from all branches of military service as well as the First & Farmers logo. Two Main Street businesses — Lake Cumberland Recovery and Kinetic by Windstream — have also commissioned patriotic murals on the exterior of their buildings that are visible from the park grounds.
The park’s other features include a reflection area with a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, and structures that pay tribute to local veterans who achieved success through their service. Those structures include the following:
Veterans Wall of Honor: $100
With a look similar to the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, this installment will be constructed along the concrete wall outside the Kentucky Utilities office. It will include names of servicemen and women donors choose to honor.
Founders Circle bricks (8-by-4-inch and 8-by-8-inch): $500 and $1,000
Memorial bricks will be engraved with the name of the donator or in honor/memory of a loved one of the donator’s choice. 8-by-4-inch bricks are available for $500, while 8-by-8-inch bricks are available for $1,000. Deadline to purchase is Sept. 16.
Tree with placard: $5,000
Trees will be planted throughout the park with accompanying placards, which will display the name of the sponsor or honor a loved one of the sponsor’s choice. These are available for $5,000. Deadline to purchase is Sept. 16.
Benches with placard: $10,000
Sponsor a place for visitors to sit as they’re enjoying the park. Benches will include matching placards including the name of the sponsor, or in honor/memory of a loved one of the sponsor’s choice. These are available for $10,000. Deadline to purchase is Sept. 16.
Bricks will continue to be sold after Sept. 16, but those bricks will not be a part of Founder’s Circle — they will be added to a wall on the back side of the park, Girdler said.
Somerset Veterans Memorial Park was announced in 2020 during a Whiskey & War Stories luncheon honoring the founders of Horse Soldier Bourbon, the community’s first bourbon distillery. Money generated from luncheon ticket sales went toward the effort, in addition to funds raised during an auction at an accompanying private event. Since then, the SPEDA Community Foundation has raised money for the project in several ways, including a 22-Push-Up Challenge that raised more than $7,000 in $22 donations and heightened awareness about veteran suicide rates.
Financial contributions of any amount are welcome. Girdler encouraged anyone interested in giving to the park to reach out to him directly at chris@speda.org or (606) 425-5409. He is also available to speak about the park project to groups and organizations in the community.
To purchase a brick, tree or bench, or to include a name on the Veterans Wall of Honor, click here, scroll to the bottom and click “Become a Sponsor.”