Dedication opens veterans memorial

More than 600 veterans, their families celebrate

By Fred Brown, Knoxville News Sentinel
Sunday, November 16, 2008

A dream that began in an American cemetery in Europe and on the beaches of Normandy came to fruition Saturday on the north end of World's Fair Park after almost a decade of work by Knoxville citizens, politicians, Tennessee congressmen and the state.

More than 600 veterans and their families turned out to celebrate the dedication of the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial, braving wind and slight rain to pay tribute to East Tennessee's war dead.

The $2.5 million memorial, hosted by the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association, honors more than 6,000 veterans from 35 area counties who died in conflicts starting with World War I. It grew from an idea that began after William "Bill" Felton III, a retired U.S. Army colonel, returned home from Normandy, France, in 1999.

Names of the veterans are inscribed on granite pylons that stand 54 inches high, making the names accessible for touching by all visitors, including those in wheelchairs. The names are sorted by conflict and then by county within each conflict. Granite benches are placed opposite each pylon for observation and contemplation.

The memorial also includes a 50-foot flagpole. A Marine guard detail raised the American flag over the memorial for the first time during Saturday's ceremony.

A 27-foot-high bell tower stands at the rear of the memorial and the pillars. It is inscribed with the four essential freedoms President Franklin D. Roosevelt mentioned in a speech to Congress Jan. 6, 1941: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear.

The hour-long ceremony included a ceremony of the state, American and U.S. Marine Corps flags and the National POW/MIA banner. Also, Mike Crawford, ETVMA president, U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr., R-Knoxville, Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam placed wreaths in front of the granite pillars to represent Roosevelt's "essential freedoms" as well as a special wreath for the state's 14 Medal of Honor recipients. All Purple Heart veterans present at the ceremony were recognized.

During the ceremony, Felton presented an American flag to retired four-star Gen. Carl Stiner of LaFollette, who then held it out to be touched by representatives from the nation's modern wars.

"This is just phenomenal," said Duncan, who was instrumental in getting $475,000 in federal funds for the project. "I wish this had been done a long time ago," said Duncan.

"Very few cities even larger than Knoxville have something like this," said Duncan, himself a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard. "It will inspire children to love their country more."

"This is a great event," said John A. Keys, Tennessee commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs. "This will let children know and understand what sacrifices the veterans have made to the nation and this city."


Retired senior writer Fred Brown may be reached at brownf08@gmail.com.