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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  National Veterans Freedom Park, Cary. Photograph courtesy of Natasha Smith.

  • Monument Name

    National Veterans Freedom Park, Cary

  • Type

    War Memorial

  • Subjects

    Veterans of Multiple Wars

  • Creator

    NVFP Foundation, Unspecified

    Howard Meehan, Designer

  • City

    Cary

  • County

    Wake

  • Description

    The National Veterans Freedom Park is a proposed memorial for past and future veterans who have served in all branches of the U.S. military, and in every war. The park is intended to act as a site to honor those veterans and to educate the public concerning their sacrifice. In 2007, NVFP received nonprofit status from the IRS. Creation of the park was the original goal of the foundation.

    According to the Town of Cary's Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department, SAS Institute has agreed to cover the cost of design and construction of "a 120-foot monument in the shape of a spire. The monument will be constructed of white granite that will be quarried from Bethel, Vermont, famous for its granite. The granite will then be cut and finished in Mt. Airy, North Carolina."

    Images: Dedication | Inscription | Vietnam War Era Combat Helmet and Rifle

  • Inscription

    IN HONOR AND MEMORY OF ALL VETERANS / PRESENTED IN HONOR OF / THE DIGNITY MEMORIAL / VIETNAM WALL EXPERIENCE / RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA / NOVEMBER 10-12, 2006 / DEDICATED DECEMBER 7, 2006 / BROWN-WYNNE FUNERAL HOMES / RALEIGH - CARY

    Combat Helmet and Rifle. Front: SOME GAVE ALL
    Back: If you are able, | save for them a place inside of you | and save one backward glance when you are leaving | for the places they can no longer go. |
    Be not ashamed to say you love them. | Though you may or may not have always | thake what they have left | and what they have taught with their dying | and keep it with your own.

  • Custodian

    City of Cary, NC

  • Dedication Date

    July 1, 2003

  • Decade

    2000s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.820490 , -78.771940 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      "Cary to Take over Veterans Park," WRAL.com, October 15, 2010, (accessed July 26, 2013) Link

      "National Veterans Freedom Park Project," Town of Cary, NC, (accessed June 25, 2012) Link

      "Town of Cary Authorizes $150,000 for Veterans Freedom Park," Cary, NC (PRWEB) April 30, 2004 (accessed July 26, 2013) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Sponsors

    SAS Institute; The Town of Cary; The NVFP Committee is currently asking for monthly donations from local residents to fund the construction of this monument.

  • Location

    The Park is located on a 11-acre stretch of land on the northwest corner of Harrison Avenue and Cary Parkway, NC.

  • Approval Process

    SAS Institute and the Town of Cary are collaborating on this project. As the Town of Cary explains, "SAS Institute proposed that in return for the Town of Cary accepting and agreeing to designate the eleven acres as a Town of Cary park, SAS Institute would provide funding for the design and construction of a monument within the park. On February 11, 2010, the Cary Town Council directed staff to investigate the requirements and costs associated with this proposal." Public meetings are also being held throughout the duration of the project so that Cary residents can provide input.

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