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caption:
Solemn
Veterans Park's Court of Honor moves visitors. More photos on page 4. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photo
Mere concrete pavers? No. Honor is set in stone
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
Dull gray concrete transformed Veterans Park into a sacred place.
Families bought pavers to help raise funds to revitalize the park, not knowing that the pavers transformed into headstones, of a sort.
Rob Challinor, chair of the Veterans Advisory Committee and one of the organizers of the park’s transformation, said he’s witnessed how powerful a paver can be. “It’s not just a brick,” he said.
The effect on visitors is powerful, he said. Some have told him they didn’t think that it would hit them so hard. Some start to tear up. “That’s my buddy there, I haven’t thought about him in a while.”
“I’m not sure why some tear up and some don’t,” Challinor said.
In his conversations with visitors, Challinor said he’s learned that the pavers are transformative. “There’s something about that park,” he said.
Some visitors leave coins on the pavers (see editor’s note below). Some will not walk on the pavers – as though it is a grave. Challinor respects that. The Court of Honor is designed to be interactive. When all the pavers are in, most visitors will have to walk onto the sea of pavers to see their loved one.
The goal is for the Court of Honor to be interactive. Down the road, there will be a listing of the pavers so loved ones are easily found. In addition, they are planning to involve school children with a program where kids can take rubbings of the pavers. The intent is for it to be interactive and to that end, the sealer on the pavers will be refreshed each year.
“It’s important to note it’s an interactive monument,” Challinor said. Hans Lowell of the VFW said “Yes, it’s a living interactive monument."
Pavers were ordered from around the world. One order came in from Thailand. He said he received a call from the mother of James Silvia (Desert Storm) wanting to order a paver for him. She was calling from out-of-state. She was told that was already taken care of. He is also listed on the Desert Storm monument installed Tuesday under killed in action.
The respectful goal is to honor veterans. “The goal is they are not forgotten,” he said. “The park gave us a chance to make sure veterans past and future will never be forgotten.”
The dedication of the park will be at 1 p.m. Nov. 10 but that’s just the beginning of honors and respect for veterans. Challinor said the park has given the veterans committees the impetus to continue honoring veterans. They are planning to revitalize veterans’ graves in the town cemeteries.
When he passes by the park at night, it’s somber.
It is a sacred place.
Editor's note: Coins left on headstones are a tradition that symbolizes respect and honor for the deceased. The denomination of the coin can have different meanings: Penny - A visit to the grave; Nickel - The visitor trained with the deceased at boot camp; Dime - The visitor and deceased served together; Quarter - The visitor was present when the deceased died. (from Google)
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