Memorial Bridge Park to Pay Tribute to All Veterans

The completion of the new Memorial Bridge that is expected this summer will also be accompanied by a new veterans memorial park thanks to a Portsmouth couple who have donated their time and money to make it happen.

City Councilors learned more about to help pay for the park. The park would be located on a triangle-shaped piece of land in between the Scott Avenue approach that Archer Western Contractors are building now.

Jim Teetzel told councilors will feature a fountain with recycle granite blocks from the foundation of the former Memorial Bridge as well as brick walkways. The couple also plans to sell individual bricks to family members and community members who can place their loved ones' names on those bricks.

Instead of honoring just World War I veterans as the former Memorial Bridge did when it was built in 1923, Teetzel said the proposed park will honor all military veterans who have served in all of the nation's wars since World War I.

He explained all branches of the service will be honored with individual medallions and there will be interpretive plaques and signage. He said the granite blocks in the fountain are intended to honor every soul who has bravely defended our freedom and our way of life.

Teetzel said a portion of those proceeds would be donated to the Memorial Bridge Illumination Subcommittee, which is currently trying to raise $200,000 to added LED lighting to the new span.

He said the Memorial Bridge lighting project has $120,000 in pledges thus far and he wanted to utilize the circular area for veterans only where families could donate and buy a brick at $20 apiece. They would have a lifetime warranty. There could be 200 or so bricks to support Special Forces killed since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

He said there could be as many as 6,000 bricks in all. He said the bricks could be sold for $35 to $40 per brick and he asked for the council’s consensus to see if he could get their support.