Two years ago the Veterans Memorial Park board members met to discuss the possibility of constructing a park and memorial to honor all veterans.
On Wednesday, board members saw one of their original goals achieved when children and parents from the Social Homeschool Group of Montgomery County visited the park for the first official tour.
Board member Dick Durbin acted as tour guide. He explained the purpose of the park and gave information on each display.
“Your presence today is helping the park take off,” Durbin said. “We want people to learn about the great sacrifices veterans have made serving our country.”
VMP president Kevin Cobb spoke briefly to the visitors and thanked them for being the first group to tour the park.
“What is happening here today is exciting,” Cobb said. “We want this park to be educational and this is a main reason why we helped make this park a reality.”
VMP board member Mike Spencer said hosting the group was important in many ways.
“We have been waiting for this day for a long time,” Spencer said. “This is the ultimate for us to see youth at our park. This park is for all veterans and we want generations to learn from it.”
Kendra Moore, organizer for the home school group, said as soon as she learned the park was open she contacted VMP board members to schedule a field trip.
“We heard the park was open to the public and we wanted to get here with Veterans Day just around the corner,” Moore said. “Several of our children and adults have veterans in their families.”
“The park is amazing including the details of the statue and it is breathtaking,” Moore said. “The historical equipment is cool and the kids liked getting close and touching them.”
Moore said the field trip was a good experience for the students and she believes everyone should take a moment to learn more about the park.
“I just want to encourage every school, group, church and club to come out here and hear the presentation,” Moore said. “This is a field trip that is worth the time.”
