Recently, The Tribune set out to explore all of the many beautiful parks within Cullman County. We’ll visit one each week.
CULLMAN, Ala. – To the left of the main entrance Sportsman Lake Park is a park created to honor and remember those from Cullman County who died for our freedoms. Cullman Veterans Memorial Park is a beautiful and serene park where people can reflect and show appreciation to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
You cannot miss it as you enter. Just look for the gorgeous waving American flag made of painted concrete. This amazing focal point, and ideal photo-op, is dedicated to William “Sonny” Teague with a plaque that reads “This flag reminds us that the heart of a patriot beats in every generation.”
The park is also the location of the Alabama Veterans Memorial Wall. Built in 1992 by the Vietnam Veterans of America, Alabama Chapter 416, the black granite wall honors the 1,209 Alabamians who died during the Vietnam War (1963-1975).
Other monuments are located on the edge of a circular footpath within the park. Memorials to those soldiers from Cullman County killed in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan are each featured. By each memorial is a bench facing it: a quiet place for friends, families and others to sit with their thoughts as they visit.
The Operation Iraqi Freedom/ Afghanistan Memorial has engraved at its base, “They gave their tomorrow for our today. On behalf of a grateful nation, we will remember.”
We carried that message in our hearts and as we made our way to the World War II Memorial. Upon seeing the number of names listed from Cullman County, the magnitude of their sacrifice and number of young men lost was hard to process.
In the center of the footpath is a monument dedicated to Purple Heart recipients. The oldest military decoration as the monument reminds us. It also reads, “My stone is red for the blood they shed. The medal I bear is my country’s way to show they care. If I could be seen by all mankind, maybe peace will come in my lifetime.” The base of the monument reads, “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, for he today that shed his blood with me shall be my brother.” Behind the Purple Heart Monument are the U.S. flag, the Alabama state flag and the POW/MIA flag.
Also in the park is an Army tank that the park asks guests to not climb on. The size of the tank as you walk around it gives you a good sense of the strength and power of our U.S. military and the courage it must have taken for those who manned these tanks. Near the tank is an oddly shaped pavilion that is large enough to host a large gathering. The pavilion, which resembles a ship, was dedicated in 2013.
Nestled quietly at the rear of Cullman Veterans Memorial Park is a small, shaded fenced-in area. The unassuming area is a bit away from the other memorials. The memorials within the small wrought iron fence pay respect to those men and women who served the South. One memorial, placed by the Nathan Bedford Forrest Chapter #2410 United Daughters of the Confederacy, reads, “Dedicated this monument to the memory of the men and women who served the Southland in the cause of the Confederacy.” It is opposite a second memorial placed by the Thomas Jefferson Denney Camp 1442, Sons of Confederate Veterans.
On the perimeter of the park is a walkway with a brick wall that features memorial bricks and an amphitheater-style seating area with more engraved bricks. These bricks are part of the Cullman Veterans Park Brick Program which allows families or friends to honor their veteran. Information on how to purchase a memorial brick can be found at www.cullmanveteranspark.com.
The park is open year-round and is open from sunrise to sunset. It is part of Sportsman Lake Park, which will be featured at a later time. The park is wheel chair-accessible and has restrooms nearby. The park is maintained by Cullman County Parks and Recreation.
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