Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/398122
6 OCTOBER 15 -21, 2014 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Campaign to Elect CHARLIE BAXLEY for SHERIFF Fayetteville Police Department 1977 - 1998 Cumberland County Sheriff's Office 1998 - 2013 910.978.1877 P.O. Box 9294 Fayetteville, NC 28311 charliebaxley@gmail.com charliebaxley.com Paid for by the Campaign to Elect Charlie Baxley F CUS continued next page On Veterans Park Honored with Outstanding Planning Award With Veterans Day approaching on Tuesday, Nov. 11, veterans in Fayetteville and across North Carolina have an extra reason to celebrate and enjoy the downtown Fayetteville gem that is North Carolina Veterans Park. The City recently received a 2014 Marvin Collins Outstanding Planning Award for the park from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NC). The Marvin Collins Planning Awards program annually recognizes agencies and individuals that have completed outstanding plans, programs and projects; have excelled as planning students; or have made notable contributions to the planning profession. The awards signify the highest standards of achievement for planning in North Carolina and highlight work that is worthy of attention. North Carolina Veterans Park received the award in the Implementation: Large Community category. The park's construction was funded by an appropriation from the North Carolina State Legislature and is operated by Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation. Craig Hampton, retired Special Projects Director, was vital in all phases of the park's development, construction and operations. The park honors all veterans - past, present and future – from all military branches. The park is rare in that respect, because many veterans' memorials and parks only honor those who have been killed in combat. The park also offers a community park setting. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful venue by relaxing at the amphitheater while reading a book or taking a walk. The benches and beautiful landscaping provide for a peaceful experience. North Carolina Veterans Park provides a proper venue for veterans and their families to heal, reflect and reunite with and meet other veterans. Veterans Park incorporates many natural and architectural elements that represent the state. Symbolic features pay homage to the veterans from all 100 counties and represent the citizens who have supported them. North Carolina Veterans Park tells the story of a veterans' journey before, during and after service. The Community Plaza represents "life before service" and features the Oath of Service Wall with 100 bronze castings of veterans' hands, one from each North Carolina county. Another highlight of the Community Plaza is the Community Columns, each adorned with the names of two North Carolina counties and hand castings of four civilians from each county, representing those who have supported veterans. The Service Plaza represents "life during service." The Patriot Wall includes a moving water wall to depict the action and excitement of a military career. The central part of the Patriot Wall is the Reflection Wall, constructed of reflective stainless steel that mirrors the images of visitors. The Pride and Purpose Tower is a steel and granite tower that has been featured on the cover of the Official State Transportation Map. The Reflection Garden is symbolic of "life after service." It gives visitors and veterans an opportunity for quiet reflection. Also important to the park's story are two gathering places that invite visitors to come together and acknowledge veterans. Camaraderie Plaza is an amphitheater that allows the community to welcome home and celebrate veterans. The Community Lawn is a large garden space for casual relaxation and formal ceremonies or planned events. The artwork of the North Carolina Veterans Park includes two art pieces made by veterans. Seven art pieces constructed from decommissioned military materials are displayed in the Artifacts Gallery. The pieces symbolize commitment, courage, dedication, heroism, sacrifice, service and honor.