Colleton County is building a new Veterans Park at the Lowcountry Regional Airport, the development of a veterans’ monument park in Colleton County is managed by the County Veterans Council. We spoke with Bob Tiegs, Scott Karal, and Chairman Nathaniel Knox about the park, its concept and some of its features. The one unique aspect of the park will be the memorial bricks that will be available for purchase. Each brick costing $100, will have a maximum of 14 characters for names. Tiegs explains, “We have two choices at the top, “In Honor of” and “In Memory of”. After that, you just fill in your veteran’s name and service, the bricks will all honor veterans and only veterans.” The project aims for a grand opening on Veterans Day this November, with a capacity for 2,000 bricks, although more could be added if needed. The park will include a central monument, a pavilion, benches representing each military branch, and additional features like a large stage and restrooms. They have even aquired a couple of military vehicles to display at the park. The Veterans Park will join the Army Airfield Park at the airport. That park has mementos of what the airfield did during World War Two, and it has a kiosk out there about the German POW camp that was at the Airport. You also have the newly renovated Tuskegee Airmen Memorial. The Airmen trained at the Army Airfield and played an important part in Colleton County History. The Verterans Park will link all three parks together to honor all who participated in the service to our Country in Colleton County. All three parks will keep their individual identities but will be one large complex.
The Tuskegee Airmen have contributed $25,000 to the park which will also feature a large-scale model airplane to honor the Tuskegee Airmen on display as well as a military ambulance and other military equipment to view.
The Veterans Council hopes to have a dedication on Veterans Day, if all construction goes as planned.
To purchase the commemorative bricks, you can pick up an order form at The Press and Standard, fill it out and mail it in with a check, money order, or contact a member of the Veterans Council.
