April 19, 2023 | The Liberty Park Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Committee, in conjunction with the City of Memphis and the Woody Williams Foundation, is proud to announce the dedication of the Liberty Park Gold Star Families Memorial Monument. The dedication ceremony and unveiling of the memorial will take place on April 26, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at Liberty Park adjacent to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.
All Gold Star Families and the public are invited to attend the dedication ceremony. Mayor Jim Strickland and Chad Graham, grandson of Medal of Honor recipient Woody Williams are scheduled to participate in the ceremony. Additional elements include Gold Star Families, a ceremonial Honor Guard and band, a Rifle Salute and TAPS.
A Gold Star Family is one who has sacrificed a Loved One while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. The title of Gold Star Family is meant to honor the service member’s ultimate sacrifice while venerating their family’s loss, grief and continued healing.
This black granite monument features two sides. One side bears the words “Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, a tribute to Gold Star Families and Relatives who sacrificed Loved Ones for our Freedom”.
The other side tells the story of Mid-South Gold Star Families and their fallen heroes through scenes on four granite panels: Homeland, Family, Patriot, and Sacrifice. At the center of this tribute is a silhouette which represents the Loved One who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of Freedom.
The Liberty Park Gold Star Families Memorial Monument committee requested the Liberty Park location to coincide with the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium’s founding principles of liberty, freedom and patriotism. The City of Memphis has donated the location and partnered with the Woody Williams Foundation to bring this tribute to the Memphis and Mid-South community. This monument will honor Gold Star Families, preserve the memory of our fallen military and educate our youth as to the sacrifices that come with our nation’s liberty.”
The Woody Williams Foundation is a nationwide charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization co-founded by Hershel “Woody” Williams, who served in World War II at the Battle of low Jima and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions. In his later years of life, Williams inspired communities across the nation to honor and recognize Gold Star Families. His vision, and now his legacy, for each memorial is to provide a place of permanence for Gold Star Families and the general public to gather in honor and recognition of the sacrifices which have been made for our freedom. This
monument demonstrates to Gold Star Families that the Midsouth community cares and will never forget.
For more information about the Liberty Park Gold Star Families Memorial Monument or to make a donation, visit https://woodywilliams.org/monument-projects.html.
For more information about the Woody Williams Foundation contact Chad Graham, CEO & President at 859-621-5531
For more information about the Liberty Park Gold Star Families Memorial Committee contact Trish Sorce, Co-Chair at 901-570-2967 or John D. Santi, Sr, Co-Chair at 901-830-0555
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