Douglasville Military Honor Garden at Hunter Park

The Douglasville Military Honor Garden at Hunter Park opened Veterans Day Nov 11, 2017 with a dedication ceremony.

It all began with the desire to honor one of Douglas County’s fallen soldiers Staff Sgt. Joshua Bowden with a tree planting. That desire inspired a garden to honor the men and women that serve our country in the five branches of the United State military. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard are all represented in the garden with Georgia Granite monuments and service branch flags raised high.

Keep Douglasville Beautiful Board led by Executive Director Chan Weeks developed the concept for the Douglasville Military Honor Garden. Board Chairman Paul Laseter, ASLA communicated those ideas on paper to begin casting the vision to the community.

The community enthusiastically jumped to support the project with money and in kind gifts.

Craig McManus the project manager and designer for Douglasville's Freedom Island project was asked to serve in the same capacity for the Douglasville Military Honor Garden. Craig refined and fleshed out the concept drawing to the gardens you see today. Some notable additions are the plant design, flag plaza, and Belgard Mega-Lafitt pavers. He also daily managed the project's construction which included over 100 workers and volunteers involved in the project. McManus is the principal at McPlants,inc. He has lived in the community with his family for over 50 years.

The Douglasville Military Honor Garden is locate in the Robert G. Hunter Memorial Park (Hunter Park) located at 8830 Gurley Road in Douglasville, GA 30134. Phone: 770-920-3007

The new Douglasville Military Honor Garden is constructed to the east and south of the existing Veterans Memorial which was built in 1998. The Veterans Memorial is the home to a F105-D Thunderchief jet. It represents the plane Lt. Robert G. Hunter was piloting when he became the first Douglas County casualty of the Vietnam War.

November 10, 2017: One Day Before Opening

Southern overlooking view of Douglasville's Military Honor Garden 11-10-17. — Southern view overlooking the new Douglasville Military Honor Garden. Joshua's Tree which inspired the garden is the tallest fullest red leaf tree on left. It is the center tree of three Nuttal Oaks anchoring the north end of the garden.

Southern overlooking view of Douglasville's new Military Honor Garden construct to the east and south of the existing Lt. Robert G. Hunter Veterans Memorial built in 1998. The F105-D Thunderchief represents the plane Hunter was piloting when he became the first Douglas County casualty of the Vietnam War.

Northern ground level view of Douglasville's new Military Honor Garden. Six flag poles stand waiting for the United States flag and five military branch flags — Northern ground level view of the new Douglasville Military Honor Garden. Six flag poles stand waiting in the plaza. The next day we will see the United States flag and five military service branch flags raised for the first time over the garden.

Eight VictorStandley benches and Belgard Mega-Lafitt pavers line the Marvel II Zoysia grassed mall between the flag plaza and monument plaza.

Southern ground level view of Douglasville's Military Honor Garden. Five Georgia Granite monuments stand will each representing a military branch. — Southern ground level view of the Douglasville Military Honor Garden. Five Georgia Granite monuments stand with each representing a military service branch.

Belgard Mega-Lafitt paver circular walk behind Douglasville's Military Honor Garden five Georgia Granite monuments each representing a military branch. — Belgard Mega-Lafitt paver circular walk form the perimeter of the monument plaza at the Douglasville's Military Honor Garden. Five Georgia Granite monuments represent a military service branch.

Donor support wall at Douglasville Military Honor Garden. — Donor Support Wall at Douglasville Military Honor Garden.

Donor Wall Inscription:

The Douglasville Military Honor Garden enduringly signifies the pride, gratitude, and respect our community has for the brave men and women who have made countless sacrifices to protect our country’s many freedoms.

Conceived as a tribute to Staff Sargent Joshua Bowden, who made the ultimate sacrifice serving active duty in Afghanistan in 2013. The project blossomed into an all-encompassing garden idea. These five granite monuments anchored among trees, vibrant plantings and an open lawn, stand to salute all who have served in the military branches of our armed forces.

Dedicated this 11th day of November 2017