We have one of the best-kept secrets of Carroll County here in Carrollton. Even though it is located across from West Georgia Technical College on Highway 16, beside the sheriff’s office, there are still some local folks who do not know it exists.

That is a shame since it is probably the finest veterans oark in West Georgia. It is well laid out, and is always neat and clean. Benches have been provided along the walk, and there is a gazebo with seating.

The first thing you will see when you enter the park is a couple of plaques with an index of the veterans, whose names and short service records are on the walls inside the park. If you look to the left, there are a couple of walls that are to be held with the greatest of respect. These walls hold the names of our KIAs who gave their lives in wars. Carroll County has always been known for its contributions to the military in times of war, and it is apparent by the numbers shown on these walls. Just to list: WBTS - 191, WWI – 22, WWII – 92, Korea – 10, Vietnam – 14, Iraq – 5.

The next walls, 24 in all, are to honor the service of individuals, and are made up of plaques which can show information such as name, rank, service branch, date of service, where served and decorations awarded. This is where your eyes will get opened pretty quickly. You might see your banker’s name there, and find that once he was a fighter pilot at a time when his country needed him. Your insurance agent could have been aboard a destroyer in the Atlantic looking for German submarines, or that kindly older guy you see in a grocery store could have stormed the beaches at Normandy or Iwo Jima.

You will see that the men of the county did not have an exclusive club. There are women who served, and did so with the same honor and devotion as the men.

There is a special wall dedicated to the service women of the wars located in the area beside gazebo and the fountain and pool. This wall shows the number of women serving and the number who gave their lives for each war from the Spanish-American through Desert Storm. The numbers will surprise you.

The park is under the care and supervision of the Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park Association Inc., with Norris Garrett as president. Funding has been through donations, selling of plaques, bricks, T-shirts, and various fundraisers by the membership. Money from these activities is then used to add to or for the upkeep of the park. Anyone wanting to purchase a plaque on the wall, or brick on the walkway can contact Norris at 770-836-1111.

At this time, I would like to give contact information for our State of Georgia Veterans Service representative, in case some of you are having a problem reaching him.

Mr. Fred Daniels Jr.

180 Martin Dr., Room E-083

Trinka Davis Veterans Outpatient Clinic

Carrollton, GA 30117

Clinic Front Desk: 404-321-6111, Ext. 2656, 2657

Due to the phone system at the Clinic presently, Fred does not have a direct line into his office, so you will have to go through the front desk until this is resolved. If you go into the clinic to see Fred, check in at the front desk first, and then take a seat in the waiting area. You will be called when he is available to see you. He is ready for business and looks forward to providing the help we need.

Robinson, a veteran and a Carroll County resident, writes a weekly column on veterans issues for the Times-Georgian.