About the Tippah County Veterans Memorial
It Started With An Idea
From Chris Marsalis, Mayor, City of Ripley
The site of the Memorial is on the highest section of the park. I walked up there one day after the rest of the park was complete to take in the view.
I said to myself “Wow, what a great spot for a Veterans’ Memorial!”
So I mentioned that to a couple of folks, and a few months later, I hear form a joint committee of the American Legion and VFW. That group asked me whether I knew of any land that the City might have available for a Veterans’ park. I said, “Boy do I ever!” So we met and went up on that rise, and everyone agreed that it is a fabulous location. The project began in earnest after that inspiring meeting. Read more about how the Tippah County Veterans Memorial came about.
Tippah Veterans Park Committee
A Tippah Veterans Park Committee is up and running with the objective of establishing a veterans memorial at the new Fred and Elizabeth Smith Memorial Park in Ripley.
Co-chairmen of the committee are Ricky Hopper, Commander of Ripley American Legion Post 81 and Mike Mauldin, Commander of Terry Lee Blythe Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4881. Initial efforts were toward securing a site for the memorial.
The Ripley Mayor and Board of Aldermen authorized the use of a part of the new city park for a veterans memorial at the April 5 board meeting.
The committee has located a M60 Main Battle Tank for display and is in the process of raising funds to construct a concrete pad and fence for the display. Initial plans include a flag pole and walk ways to the memorial. More features are planned as funds become available.
We encourage veterans, family and relatives of veterans and members of the public to assist us in honoring our veterans by establishing a veterans memorial all of us will be proud of by donating to this project.
Pictured at a meeting of the Tippah Veterans Park Committee with the Ripley Mayor and Board of Aldermen are L-R: Aldermen Jackie McKenzie, Steve Freeman, Jon Grisham and Homer Richardson; Mayor Chris Marsalis; Bill Baker, Commander Mike Mauldin, Tommy Rainey, Commander Rickey Hopper, District Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Jim Gay, Alderman Jeff Bryant and Ripley Police Chief Scott White
City Endorses the Project
