Hundreds of veterans, residents and elected officials donning red, white and blue gathered under the shade of the oak trees at Lois Forte Park in Newberry on Memorial Day for the opening and dedication of Veterans Memorial Park (120 NW 260th St., Newberry). 

The two-and-a-half-year long project spearheaded by Newberry City Commissioner and retired Marine Master Sergeant Mark Clark aims to honor all veterans who served during times of peace and war, and those who died while serving. 

“On this day, we are forever grateful for the ultimate sacrifice of those who died for this country,” Clark said. “We are here to dedicate this wonderful Veterans Memorial so that we can all come and have a place to reflect.” 

After Pastor Rocky McKinley of Destiny Community Church started the ceremony with an invocation, the Newberry American Legion Post 149 Color Guard presented the colors and the Oak View Middle School Symphonic Band and Newberry High School Band lead the crowd in the national anthem and “Taps.” 

Veterans also stood to their branch’s anthem as the bands performed Marches of the Armed Forces, a medley of the official U.S. military branch songs. The rumbling of The Rolling Thunder Chapter Three’s motorcycle brigade driving by aimed to serve as a reflection on Prisoner of War (POW) and Missing In Action (MIA) soldiers. 

The group also donated a granite POW/MIA Chair of Honor in the memorial that will remain perpetually empty to help remind visitors that even though the soldiers aren’t with them, there will always be a space for them. 

Memorial committee members also distributed to veterans in attendance challenge coins donated by resident Lynn Rousseau. The coins quickly ran out, however, as so many more people attended the event than anticipated. 

Army Green Beret veteran Wes Alcorn, who served a two-year deployment to Vietnam, said a memorial like Newberry’s is critical for remembering all who serve, especially those like himself who he said weren’t honored when they first returned from service. 

“When we came home, they spit on us,” Alcorn said. “I love my country, and we put our lives out there for it, and I’d do it again.” 

State Rep. Chad Johnson said he attended the memorial dedication to pay tribute and show appreciation for those who, like his World War II veteran grandfather, served so that American citizens can live free. 

“Freedom certainly isn’t free,” he said. “This is just a constant reminder that there are those that gave up their lives for us to have the freedom to enjoy what we get to do as Americans.” 

Former state representative and memorial project coordinator Debbie Boyd said the project started as nothing more than “a page full of scribbles” by Clark in 2022.  

Local artist Paula Willis then drafted the first sketches of the memorial, and the committee chose to build in the southwest corner of Lois Forte Park for sewer and water access for future veterans events. After construction started in March 2025, crews finished this month just in time for Memorial Day. 

Community contributions from citizens and businesses raised around $371,000 for the project, which features 1,000 engraved bricks honoring veterans and a bronze Special Operations Force Dog warrior statue donated by Dr. Lance Baltzley and Newberry Animal Hospital. 

Boyd said seeing the Veterans Memorial Park culminate to completion will honor veterans who served and the community that came together to serve them.

“This truly has been a great project for our community and its citizens and businesses,” she said. “All of us together have built a place that our community can be very, very proud of now and for generations to come.” 

Click here to learn more about the memorial or purchase a memorial brick.