New veterans park now open

By Mike Steely

Senior Writer

steelym@knoxfocus.com

The new French Broad Veterans Memorial Park overlooking the East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery will “help to tell the story of service and sacrifice,” according to Legacy Parks Director Carol Evans.

She spoke recently as the bluff-side park opened and drew a couple hundred veterans, their families, supporters and elected public officials. Evans mentioned the many people and organizations that came together to build the new park on land donated by Blue Water Industries. The new 8.5-acre park is located just off Governor John Sevier Highway north of the river bridge.

Speakers at the grand opening included Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Veteran Services Major General Tommy Baker,  Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, Denise Thorne of the Deep South Garden Club, Lelia Johnson of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs, Janie Bitner of the Blue and Gold Star Memorial Markers, and Lt. Colonel Col Graver of the Flying Cross Society.

Major General Tommy Higgins, commander of Tennessee Veteran Services, described the park’s location as “100 percent right” and noted that Knox County has 30,000 military veterans and the state has 430,000 veterans.

Kelly Shipe sang “Amazing Grace,” and veterans of the East Tennessee Veterans Honor Guard, two from each military service, were joined by elected officials to raise the flag of their service organization.

Mayor Jacobs spoke of a new monument at the park, the Buzz Buswell Walk, and honored Buswell for his support and service to local veterans. Buswell is the director of Veterans and Senior Services for Knox County.  Another marker honored recipients of the Flying Cross and Blue Star families.

The park features a grand overlook of the river and the veteran cemetery, a large shelter with bathrooms, several markers in the main park and along the trails, and other features are planned as the park is transferred from Legacy Parks to Knox County Parks.