The parks and recreation department has been notified of damages caused by rain,erosion and vandalism. The few repairs that were perform were mere quick fixes that were not meant to be permanent ones.
A committee of citizens has formed to oversee that this great monument to our Veteran's does not go into more disrepair. There are more photo's on the http://www.crghenry.org/ website.
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America, the land of the free and home of the brave. This saying means so much to so many, and it is not free. We have paid so much for our freedom with the lives of thousands of our loved ones, that gave their lives so we would be free today. We put up monuments to remember and honor those that protected our freedom as a way to say thank you for what you have done. Sadly when a great monument such as the Veterans Wall of Honor is left in such disrepair and the bad workmanship that took place in the construction process is left to the elements it reflects on all of us. This great monument is in a County park and is the responsibility of Henry County. A lot of blood sweat and tears went into getting the monument built for our veterans of all wars, to show them the pride we have for them and to let them know we will never forget them. I know that times are tight and money is short but this is bigger than all of us, this must be done. I have heard that Commissioner Bowman would consider selling Nash Farm to build a technical School, that is a good idea. There are always solutions to the problems we have in the County, if the County is willing to sacrifice the things that are not that important.
Remember when we elected a new Sheriff and the Commissioners salary was to come down to a percentage of what the new Sheriff makes. Well to the best of my knowledge this has not happened. So I would ask the Henry County Board of Commissioners to vote to bring down their salary as they are supposed to have done a year ago and take the difference and put it towards fixing the Veterans Wall of Honor. I know some of the Commissioners are going to cry out, that is a lot of money to sacrifice. I ask them this, is it more than what our Veterans sacrificed with their lives so you could be free to make your money? I ask all citizens to contact your Commissioner and ask them to get the repairs going on the Veterans Wall of Honor it is in a great park with a lot of good history of Henry County, don’t let the wall be a blight on the park and County and it’s people.
Alfred Britt
Founder
CRG.
A handful of politicos got their names and pictures published. The Wall was a great addition to Henry County. There is even a billboard inviting travelers to visit. It's another example of living "comfortably south of Atlanta" where the intended image does not represent the true nature of our world.
Local businesses donated time and money; some grant money came in; and, private individuals coughed up money for pavers and bricks. It remains an awesome tribute to our veterans and active duty personnel. I am very proud of Joanne Mulvaney and the original board and supporters who made it happen.
Almost from the start it was noted the original concrete work was sub-standard. An attempt was made by a local business to repair the facades. But now even those repairs are are not enough to hide the underlying problems. The foundation below the pavers is another story. Band-Aid fixes are not appropriate for this memorial.
The photos tell the story. Note the poor quality of original concrete work, and the facing added later is deteriorating. Bronze stars are missing from some of the plaques on the main wall. Both sides of the walkway show signs of rounded edges from skateboarders 'grinding' down the walls. The bricks and pavers seem to have been placed on sand without proper compacting.
Our board of commissioners talk a big story about $14 million for a fiber optic network. Funding to come from who knows where. And there is no end to the Nash Farm checkbook. Soccer fields are another pet project with 10 more fields going in at Mt. Carmel. There is a clear and present danger of grossly misplaced priorities.
The Henry Park & Rec Department has become the catch-all authority for every vote-buying scheme. And the money just keeps on rolling. Since Park & Rec is charged with maintaining the Veterans Wall memorial, let's join voices to rearrange mindsets from fleeting ego enhancements to permanent principles and betterment of our county.
The in-crowd politicos took credit and pushed their way into the limelight. The PR machine was in full swing. Now that the day-to-day work must resume, they are nowhere to be found. We all know the story - and the people whose 15 minutes of fame was never meant to include actually caring for the memorial.
To restate, I am very proud of Joanne Mulvaney and the original board and supporters. I am proud of our citizens who will now take responsibility for overseeing and insuring this memorial is treated and maintained in proper manner.
As my good friends have stated, the Veteran's Wall of Honor needs some help. As this old man remembers walking along the creek below the hill where the monument resides during my childhood and never realized that a monument to those who have served their nation would rise from the field above.
When Ms. Mulvaney and her father Mr. Consalvo began the chore of creating such a monument, they never knew how difficult it could be to get aid from friends and neighbors. Her father would not live to see it finished but she worked hard to see that it would be the vision her father had realized.
Damages and poor workmanship can be expected on many projects, but not on one that represents the people who gave a part of their lives and many the ultimate price. Those who took over the project away from the founder did a rush job to get things finished for photo opts in the push for helping those politicians involved.
To make matters worse the county has been lagging in repairing concrete, lights, and other items at the monument. People have created vandalism to the site out shear ignorance. This site means something more than just a monument to veterans. This is a site where loved ones can come to and remember those who served and did not return from the horrors of war.
It is a fact that the new Chairman pushed this monument to the back burner and took it away from the founder Ms. Mulvaney. This was all over a push to make the architect of the site look better. His wife works for the Chairman and creating this monument would be a feather in the cap of his business. But this is in the past. We are dealing with today.
The citizens would like to know how much money has been allocated to the budget of the Parks and Recreation to keep the monument looking as it should. It was made aware months ago that money to advertise fireworks at Nash Farm was in the budget for the Parks and Rec. How much money has been allocated for other projects as well through this budget?
We the people of Henry County deserve better and this monument should be taken care of in a reasonable time. It angers veterans who this monument stands to represent that they don't mean enough to the government of the county than leaving this site unfinished. It angers me because I am one of those veterans and would love to see this monument made all it can be through those hands that care in this county.
But they must learn to care first.
Caring enough to say let's do the right thing should be a beginning.
Those that this monument represents cared enough to leave their homes and kept this country free. Are you free of mind enough to say that I want this monument fixed and not because someone says it needs it but because it is the right thing to do. Show your appreciation and good will toward your fellow man by doing so.
Me being a Henry County citizen and veteran of Viet Nam do not like it that our county government has let this monument to the people who served this nation go down hill. I went by there the other day and saw what the pictures can not tell. What is disgusting about the whole thing is I remember reading in the paper recently where these folks got an award for making a film of bringing home Sgt. Beale who gave his life for his nation. Our State Representative got the award, and a couple of police folks got the award also. All this took place in Florida I believe. It cost money to go there and get these awards. The Wall of Honor is for Sgt. Beale also and to let it go down and look so badly is a gutless shame on the part of our government. I was asked to go and serve my country and to kill folks.
I ended up almost getting killed.
So don't tell me that this place can't be fixed and just keep your politics and agendas out of the process. I may be black but that has nothing to do when your blood is spilled for this nation. Folks are standing guard right now to keep your fancy selves safe. Just remember that when you sit down to eat a steak at the table and somewhere someone is sitting in the sand poking at something you would not eat. I love my country do you?
Pete Cook
I used to work for our county. In the maintainence department we have to do things when ordered. We got orders to bring dirt to Heritage Park for a rodeo. And we got orders to fix them old houses. But we didn't get asked to work on the monument place. Sure did have to do a lot of little things at that Nash Farm though. Even got calls for Holder Park for rush jobs. I lost my job because of the economy. Being a veteran of the Gulf War we no respect. Only friends of friends do.
Bo Redman
Jackson, GA.
If you want me come on down.
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