About The Park

Veterans Memorial Park of Kentucky is located on over 33,000 sq. feet in an educational complex that includes a high school, middle school, and two elementary schools. The setting of the Park is in the Theodore Klein Historical Tree Museum. Trees are identified for Park visitors. Also, additional flowering trees have planted.

The location of the Park is in Crestwood, KY off, Veterans Memorial Parkway (a section KY 329) and is approximately 1 ½ miles south from I-71, Exit 14 and is handicap accessible.

The main entrance of the Park is a brick pad consisting of engraved bricks of only veterans. Service members killed in action’s bricks are distinctive with a different color than other bricks. A monument in the shape of Kentucky recognizes Park Sponsors and supporters are at the entrance along with an information kiosk.

The 900 foot sidewalk, called “300 Years of Military History” consists of:

Segments of 72” X 36” which permit two wheel chairs to pass each other

Brick inserts that have sequential years engraved in each insert, beginning with 1775

Include colored segments that indicate at least one American died in a military action that year

During ceremonies, historical American flags are placed along the sidewalk during ceremonies to illustrate which flag was flown in battles of that era. In addition, sponsored county markers recognizing their veterans who served installed along the sidewalk. Student docents stand by the flag and to provide historical information it.

Three types of educational markers about military actions are installed along the sidewalk:

Granite pedestal markers including information about specific military actions with individual markers for those actions where at least 100 were killed; other markers may include multiple military actions.

Markers on metal poles providing quotes concerning the military and veterans.

Informational markers are installed in the ground with specific information about military history, such as the Windtalkers, Tuskegee Airmen, women in the military, military dogs.

Kentucky County markers are installed in the ground acknowledging those who served from their county.

Military history is depicted on large black granite commemorative panoramic monuments with etched pictures that focus of the Park, beginning with the Revolutionary War.

Granite and metal benches have been installed. There are 30-foot flag poles for the American, Kentucky, and POW flags.

A five-sided gazebo with each side having a granite pad by it with military branch emblems and a place for the branch’s flags to be placed next to them during ceremonies.

Also planned is an area designated as the “LZ”, representing the Vietnam War Landing Zone, where organizations (e.g. VFW, Marine units) will be able to sponsor a marker on a pedestal with information about their organization.

The Park already includes:

An outdoor classroom that was done as an Eagle Scout project

A Liberty Elm Tree from the Liberty Tree Society that was donated by the Sons of the American Revolution

The trees have been identified by an American Heritage Girls’ troop.

It is worth mentioning that a decision was made for the pedestal markers, large benches to be located by the sidewalk, and branch medallion holders by the gazebo will be made utilizing American granite. This has greatly increased the project’s cost by several hundred thousand dollars. But, the Board decided that using American granite on these Park elements is important regardless of the cost, even if completed construction of the Park was delayed.

VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK OF KENTUCKY

Groundbreaking

About The Park

THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES DONATED TIME AND SERVICES TO INSURE THE SUCCESS OF VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK OF KENTUCKY