Veterans Park Amphitheater facts for kids
| Full name | Veterans Park Amphitheater |
|---|---|
| Address | Corner of Oglethorpe Blvd and Front Street; Albany, Georgia |
| Coordinates | 31°34′28″N 84°08′55″W / 31.5745°N 84.14858°W |
| Owner | Albany Parks & Recreation; Albany, Georgia |
| Type | Amphitheater |
| Capacity | 2,500 |
The Veterans Park Amphitheater is a big outdoor stage and seating area in Albany, Georgia. It can hold about 2,500 people. This amphitheater is part of a larger area that includes the Albany Civic Center and the Albany Municipal Auditorium. It's a place where people gather for fun events.
Since it opened in the mid-1980s, the amphitheater has been a key spot for many activities. In the past, it hosted big yearly events like River Days in spring and Fall on the Flint. Today, it is mostly used for music concerts. It also hosts important holiday celebrations. These include Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day.
Honoring Veterans: Memorials at the Park
Veterans Park is home to special monuments. These memorials help us remember the brave soldiers who served our country. They are important parts of the park.
Vietnam War Memorial
In 1989, a special monument was built at the entrance of Veterans Park. It is called The Veterans of the Vietnam War Memorial. The idea for this monument came from John Griffin. He was a Vietnam veteran and received a Purple Heart medal. He also designed the monument.
The memorial was carved from a huge block of Georgia granite. It weighed 24,000 pounds! On it are the names of 42 soldiers. These soldiers were from Dougherty and Lee County and died in the Vietnam War. John Griffin shared that everything for the monument was done by Georgia veterans. They did the designs, provided the materials, and did all the hard work.
World War II Memorial
On November 11, 2013, a large crowd gathered at Veterans Park Amphitheater. They were there for the unveiling of The World War II Memorial. The Albany American Legion Post 30 and the SOWEGA Veterans Coalition worked on this project for over two years. They decided not to put individual names on the memorial. They worried they might accidentally forget someone. Instead, they listed all the important battles of the war.
Charles Nicholson, an officer with Post 30, said the monument cost $19,000. It is a massive granite structure, 19 feet long and 11 feet tall. It weighs 11 tons! All the money for it came from donations. Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard spoke at the dedication. She said, "We are here to celebrate the men and women who served, fought and died for our freedoms in World War II." She added that the monument would remind people of the sacrifices made.
