Matthews Veterans Memorial Restoration Project
What is it
This uplifting and inspring project is a community wide effort to restore the veterans memorial area within Stumptown Park in Matthews, NC into a place that respectfully and honorably remembers our fallen veterans as well as transforming it into a place that the town of Matthews and all of its residents can point to with pride.
WHY IS THIS PROJECT NECESSARY
Over the years the veterans area of Stumptown Park has fallen into disrepair. In its current state, this area does not properly reflect the way in which the residents of Matthews feel about its fallen veterans nor does the appearance live up to the commitment of Matthews to be a veteran friendly and supportive community.
HOW WILL IT BE FUNDED
The funds for the restoration will be supplied by the Matthews Veterans Memorial Fund. The fund will be administered by the Hooks-Orr American Legion Post 235 of Matthews, NC.
The fund will be supplied by receiving contributions from individuals and businesses within Matthews and the surrounding areas that want to be part of this extraordinary opportunity to honor our fallen heroes.
There will be no town funds requested for the restoration.
The Vision
The Matthews Veterans Memorial will transform the back of Stumptown Park into a place of respect and honor for our fallen veterans.
The memorial will consist of four sections:
Memorial Wall
Memorial Garden
Memorial Plaza
Memorial Entrance
The Visionaries
The restored Matthews Veterans Memorial overall design is the combination of concepts provided by veterans themselves.
The concepts are being brought to reality through the creative talents of a landscape designer, Lisa Tompkins, and with conceptual drawings supplied by a Vietnam veteran, Don Estes, Jr., who is a student of Eileen Schwartz with the Matthews Art Center.
How Will it Happen
Mark Tofano, the commander of the Hooks-Orr American Legion Post 235 in Matthews, NC, will be the project coordinator. Mark will work closely with the directors of the town of Matthews departments of Parks and Recreation and Public Works as well as town staff and elected officials.
Also, the town of Matthews citizen advisory committees for Veterans, Parks & Rec and Appearance and Tree will be an integral part of the process.
The construction of the memorial hardscape, irrigation system and lighting will be completed by contractors. The Memorial Garden will be built by a team of Eagle Scouts.
When Will it Happen
Clearing of the veterans memorial area of vegetation and ground cover in preparation for construction is scheduled to begin during the last week of July, 2020.
Construction of the backdrop for the military service and POW / MIA flags in the Memorial Wall area is scheduled to begin in late August, 2020 as well as the construction of the mural wall located in the Memorial Plaza area.
The bases for the monuments in the Memorial Garden are scheduled for installation in late August 2020. The monuments are scheduled to be installed on the bases in early September, 2020
The landscaping is scheduled to be installed during the last week of September, 2020 through the first week of October, 2020. The lighting and irrigation systems will be installed at this time, as well.
Grand opening of the Matthews Veterans Memorial is scheduled for Veterans Day, November 11, 2020 during the Veterans Day ceremony that will be conducted by the Matthews American Legion Post 235.
The mural, which will adorn the mural wall in the Memorial Plaza area, is scheduled to be created before Memorial Day, May 31, 2021. It is intended that the mural content will be determined after community input in order to produce an image that best depicts the sacrifice paid by our fallen veterans.
IT CAN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU
Please, be part of this extraordinary moment in Matthews history. Please donate whatever you can, but more importantly, be there with us on November 11, 2020 to celebrate the unveiling of the newly restored Matthews Veterans Memorial.