The Pelzer Heritage Commission (PHC) has been working toward having a Veterans Memorial in Pelzer for a number of years.
Several locations were proposed for the memorial including the Monkey Park and the lower Pelzer Mill property owned by the PHC. Recently it has been decided that the Memorial will be located at Wardlaw Park, located behind the Pelzer Gym and parking lot.
The decision will allow the project to finally get underway.
Meritus Signature Homes, located in Anderson, had been working with the Pelzer Heritage Commission on the Pelzer Veterans Memorial. Meritus did the design and is handling all facets of the memorial’s construction. PHC will supply the materials. The project is also supported by Upstate Warriors Solution, Vets Helping Vets, VFW and Palmetto High ROTC.
The memorial design includes a section to honor all Veterans and a Ring of Honor out front in a circle to observe those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
PHC Vice President Larry Coker said, “The Memorial will include Veterans from Pelzer, West Pelzer, Williamston and Piedmont.” He thanked the people with Meritus who have been working with the PHC on the project for approximately three years.
Coker said the Veterans Memorial will also honor Joe Neely, who as a young boy grew up near Wardlaw Park. Marine Corps PFC Neely was a casualty of the Korean War at the age of 20.
The PHC has also been selling memorial bricks that will be used as part of the memorial.
Four by eight inch bricks will have three lines of wording and will be $100 each. Eight by eight inch bricks will have six lines of wording and an emblem and will be $200 each.
“All bricks sold will go toward the perpetual care of the Memorial,” Coker said.
Coker said the PHC is still selling memorial bricks for the memorial and that many bricks listing names of WWI and WWII Veterans, and others, have already been ordered and will be coming in soon.
To reserve a Memorial Brick go to: https://donate.brickmarkers.com/phc
“All bricks sold will go toward the perpetual care of the Memorial,” Coker said.
A spokesperson for Meritus said they are ready to start the project soon.
