(4/24) Walkersville Veterans Memorial Park seeks names of veterans for memorial bricks to expand a one-of-a-kind monument to service members. The Veterans Wall, construction of which began in 2016, showcases the names of veterans as a way for the community to honor veterans from any time period, branch of service, or location. Each brick honors an individual veteran.
The Town of Walkersville is hard at work collecting brick orders for the last phase of the Veterans Wall.
The Veterans Committee is encouraging everyone to purchase a brick to honor any veteran near and dear to their heart. Bricks are $50 each and orders may be placed with the Committee or at Town Hall.
"They sell out fast!" cautions Don Schildt, who has served as the Veterans Committee Chairman for 22 years and continues to be enthralled by the continuous dedication of the community to honor veterans.
When first presented with the idea to display a wall of veteran’s names Schildt anticipated it might take years to collect enough names to fill it. But the first phase of the wall "filled up in no time," Schildt said, while the second phase of the wall only has about twelve spots left.
Since its inception in 2016, the Veterans Wall has grown to include more than four hundred bricks, each displaying a name of a service member. Nine states are represented on the wall, as well as two Civil War veterans, and several members still currently serving, according to Schildt. He also noted an original wooden sign has been found to help name World Warr II veterans as well. "The wall has been a big success and it is growing every year.
The Veteran’s Committee has recently broke ground on the third phase of the wall to be dedicated at this year’s Veteran’s Day Ceremony on November 6 at 1 p.m.
Walkersville’s annual Veteran’s Day Remembrance ceremony has truly taken off since the dedication of the Veterans Wall, commented Shildt. Veteran’s Day in Walkersville is a somber, reflective time that now brings in a resolute crowd of upwards of 300 people, he said. The community driven ceremony engages high school choruses, scouts, color guards, noteworthy keynote speakers, and many other organizations.
Schildt credited Walkersville’s dedicated community with honoring service members far and wide and striving to keep memories alive.
The Walkersville Veteran’s Memorial Park was originally constructed through the Kawanis Club in 1981 and is located at the intersection of Main Street, Pennsylvania Ave and Liberty Street and honors veterans of all wars and conflicts.
Development of the park cost about $6,000 in 1981, equivalent to just under $20,000 today. The cost was paid in part by local businesses as well as by individuals from the community. Walkersville government officials have formally named the park "Memorial Park". The Glen W. Eyler Post 282 donated the flagpole that was installed by Walkersville Kiwanians, and now plays an instrumental role in the memorial display.
More information about the Walkersville Veterans Committee or brick purchase can be found by contacting Town Hall at 301-845-4500 or Schildt at 301-788-1056.
-Money raised by brick sales go towards park maintenance
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