Jackson to honor veterans with Brookside Park Memorial ribbon-cutting ceremony
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
JACKSON, Mo. (KBSI) — Community members, veterans and local leaders gathered Thursday at the Brookside Park Veterans Memorial in Jackson for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and memorial service ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
The memorial, established more than 30 years ago, was originally created as a permanent place to honor local veterans from all wars. Organizers said it was considered one of only ten memorials in the country at the time dedicated to veterans of all conflicts.
During the ceremony, officials reflected on the memorial’s continued role in honoring veterans and preserving their stories for future generations.
“Since that time, families, veterans and visitors have come here to honor those who serve our nation and to ensure their sacrifices are not forgotten,” Lucas Green said during the ceremony. “The names represented here are more than names on a memorial. The name is how we remember a person. It represents a life, a family, a story, a legacy. When a name is spoken, that person is not forgotten.”
Officials said the memorial serves as a reminder that the names displayed represent members of the Jackson community who answered the call to serve.
“They were fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, neighbors and friends,” Green said. “They served with honor. And today we pause to remember them with gratitude and respect.”
Five new flags were also added Thursday in honor of local veterans from the community who passed away over the past year.
At the request of the Jackson VFW, the City of Jackson recently installed five new light poles along the walkways leading to the memorial. Officials said the added lighting now allows flags displayed along the pathways to remain up overnight while still following proper U.S. flag etiquette standards.
The ceremony included the reading of veterans’ names, a moment of silence and the playing of taps as families and visitors gathered to pay tribute ahead of Memorial Day.
