Visitors to the Veterans Walk of Honor will soon be able to enjoy a respite on new benches when they come to pay tribute to those who have served our country.
A project funded by the families of local veterans and backed by the Elizabethton City Council will install new seating at the Walk of Honor.
On its first reading Thursday, members of the Council voted unanimously in favor of the $2,800 project, which includes the installation of four new benches, clock repair, the purchase of lights and engraving costs.
“Funding will come from revenue generated through engraved brick sales,” said Councilman Sam Shipley.
The brick program began in 2002, and wooden benches were installed not long after.
“The old benches are 10 years old and are quite deteriorated,” said Shipley.
The new benches will be made of metal and are expected to have a longer lifespan.
Shipley said all the engraving orders placed for this year have been completed, but that they still have 150 bricks available.
For a veteran or currently enlisted person to qualify for a brick, he or she must have at one point in life been a resident of Carter County, and Shipley said they welcome military personnel from all branches.
“A lot of people think they don’t qualify because they weren’t born here or don’t live here now, but they are eligible and it makes a wonderful Christmas present,” he said. “It’s just a good way to honor our military personnel.”
The black granite bricks are $100 each, and when the last 150 are engraved, it will make a total of 5,850 in the Walk of Honor.
To order a brick, call Marie Blevins at City Hall at 423-547-1503 or Shipley at 423-542-3232.
Shipley chairs the Elizabethton/Carter County Veterans War Memorial Committee, on which Blevins sits as Administrative Assistant. City Manager Jerome Kitchens, Fred Edens and Jeanette Hitchcock also serve on the committee.