Veterans Park Ribbon Cutting

The new Veterans Park is a space for Sumter to honor and remember all branches of the U.S. Military and to highlight Sumter’s motto “Uncommon Patriotism” as we showcase Sumter as a military-friendly community.

The design allows for a mix of gathering space and areas for quiet reflection. The park you see here today began in 2016 as a way to celebrate the 75^th Anniversary of Shaw Air Force Base.

The park’s location was an easy choice, for the past 30 years, it has served as a memorial honoring Major General George L. Mabry, Jr., a Sumter native. Mabry was a recipient of the United States military’s highest decoration for valor – the Medal of Honor, for his heroism during the Battle of Hurtgen Forest in World War II.

In addition, the project will also seek to incorporate future Veterans’ monuments, such as the forthcoming Tuskegee Airmen Monument, representing the four Sumter residents who served as some of the first black military aviators in U.S. history.

The park addresses accessibility and public safety issues turning into the Sumter Gate at Shaw Air Force Base as well as onto Oleandar Drive.

You are cordially invited to join us for the ribbon cutting on Thursday, October 22, 2020 at 2:30 PM. Stay tuned for future announcements and development plans for the park.