Veteran's Park
Veteran's Park and Memorial is a historic landmark in downtown Kannapolis. This long beloved picturesque community park, at the corners of North main Street and First Street in downtown Kannapolis, has only recently become a regional landmark. The new brick walkways, fountains, and green spaces create a beautiful gathering place for the community and is occasionally used for concerts and special events. Recently added features include the eternal flame, the granite Ring of Honor, and the Memorial Plaza monument and bronze wreath. These additions create and atmosphere of respect and quiet reflection in which to pay tribute to those who have served.
This park was first named Town Park upon its establishment long ago. This site was built by the Cannon Mills Company along Lake Shore Drive near the mill's main gate. During the second world war, residents of Kannapolis came to Town Park to pay tribute to servicemen and women at a memorial named Little Mt. Vernon, which was built in 1943 and named after its likeness to George Washington's home in eastern Virginia.
The names of over 6,000 men who had been drafted from Kannapolis were listed on the wooden Little Mt. Vernon memorial. The structure was replaced by the current standing pavilion and sundial in the 1970s, in order to create an event space for the park. Veteran's Park has continued to be a community gathering place for special occasions since. The names of those 6,000 men and women were lost until the daughter of a former YMCA employee brought a pamphlet to the Kannapolis History Associates that listed the names in the order that they appeared on the original memorial.
On Memorial Day 2000, Town Park was renamed Veteran's Park to honor those who have served in the armed forces to defend and protect our country. The park is currently located adjacent to the Core Lab Building of the North Carolina Research Campus. The park has traditionally offered a scenic and peaceful environment to play or relax.
Read the names that are listed on the Ring of Honor here.
Veteran's Park reopened after renovations in May 2013. It was renovated into a much larger and historically significant regional memorial. The granite Ring of Honor now displays over 1,700 names of those individuals from Rowan and Cabarrus Counties, dating back to the Revolutionary War, who have died in service. The Design of the Memorial Plaza at the park entrance includes a five-point star honoring the five branches of military service and a monument and bronze wreath reminiscent of the National World War II Memorial that is located in Washington, D.C.
The Memorial's eternal flame burns in honor of those veterans commemorated on the Ring of Honor. Surrounded by cascading water, the eternal flame is decorated with bronze plaques representing the five branches of military service: Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and the Merchant Marines.
On Thursdays in May and June, Veteran's Park becomes home to a lunchtime concert series as part of the Summer Entertainment Series. Additional concerts and events, including a new evening concert series, are scheduled under the majestic oaks the Veterans Park. Many outstanding partners can be thanked for their contributions to the renovations at Veteran's Park: First Baptist Church, Castle & Cooke, Cabarrus County, The Cannon Foundation, Kannapolis History Associates, and Rowan County Library.
This park was first named Town Park upon its establishment long ago. This site was built by the Cannon Mills Company along Lake Shore Drive near the mill's main gate. During the second world war, residents of Kannapolis came to Town Park to pay tribute to servicemen and women at a memorial named Little Mt. Vernon, which was built in 1943 and named after its likeness to George Washington's home in eastern Virginia.
The names of over 6,000 men who had been drafted from Kannapolis were listed on the wooden Little Mt. Vernon memorial. The structure was replaced by the current standing pavilion and sundial in the 1970s, in order to create an event space for the park. Veteran's Park has continued to be a community gathering place for special occasions since. The names of those 6,000 men and women were lost until the daughter of a former YMCA employee brought a pamphlet to the Kannapolis History Associates that listed the names in the order that they appeared on the original memorial.
On Memorial Day 2000, Town Park was renamed Veteran's Park to honor those who have served in the armed forces to defend and protect our country. The park is currently located adjacent to the Core Lab Building of the North Carolina Research Campus. The park has traditionally offered a scenic and peaceful environment to play or relax.
Read the names that are listed on the Ring of Honor here.
Veteran's Park reopened after renovations in May 2013. It was renovated into a much larger and historically significant regional memorial. The granite Ring of Honor now displays over 1,700 names of those individuals from Rowan and Cabarrus Counties, dating back to the Revolutionary War, who have died in service. The Design of the Memorial Plaza at the park entrance includes a five-point star honoring the five branches of military service and a monument and bronze wreath reminiscent of the National World War II Memorial that is located in Washington, D.C.
The Memorial's eternal flame burns in honor of those veterans commemorated on the Ring of Honor. Surrounded by cascading water, the eternal flame is decorated with bronze plaques representing the five branches of military service: Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and the Merchant Marines.
On Thursdays in May and June, Veteran's Park becomes home to a lunchtime concert series as part of the Summer Entertainment Series. Additional concerts and events, including a new evening concert series, are scheduled under the majestic oaks the Veterans Park. Many outstanding partners can be thanked for their contributions to the renovations at Veteran's Park: First Baptist Church, Castle & Cooke, Cabarrus County, The Cannon Foundation, Kannapolis History Associates, and Rowan County Library.