Atlanta History Center Opens New Veterans Park

The Atlanta History Center in Buckhead opened its newly expanded one-acre Veterans Park just outside the center on the corner of Slaton Drive and West Paces Ferry Road on Memorial Day, and hundreds came out to celebrate.

Gov. Nathan Deal was one of the attendees for the Memorial Day grand opening ceremony at the park, which was formally dedicated to all of the men and women who have served - and continue to serve - the United States of America.

The park was originally conceived in 2000 with the help of the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association and began as a small garden honoring veterans from the Vietnam War.

During the public dedication on Monday, Lt. Colonel Richard A. Lester, US Army Retired, and a Vietnam helicopter pilot, completed a sacred soil ceremony. Soils from every major conflict in which our country has fought - including the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan– were collected in a helmet worn by Colonel John Ruggles of the Fourth Infantry Division at Utah Beach on D-Day and then distributed on the grounds near the Veterans Park flag pole. In addition, soil from Germany, France, Italy, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iwo Jima, Saipan, Wake Island, Tarawa, Pelelui, Guam, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Korea, were on display in the History Center while the remaining portion will be placed in a time capsule beneath the Seal of the United States located on the main walkway of Veterans Park.

The Atlanta History is still collecting veteran’s oral histories – both active and retired - through its ongoing partnership with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. For more information on participating in the Veterans History Project, email VeteransHistoryProject@AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.

Additionally, military families are encouraged to sign up and share their personal family stories at StoryCorps at the Atlanta History Center through participation in StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative. The Military Voices Initiative records, shares, and preserves the stories of post-9/11 veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. For more information on the Military Voices Initiative, visit StoryCorps.

Now through Labor Day, the History Center is offering military discounts, which include free admission to all active duty military personnel and up to five additional members of their families. Retired military receive free admission for up to two adults.

-Atlanta History Center contributed to this report.