This plaque at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Atlanta announces the gift of land for the park by three generations of a visionary family.
The Veterans Memorial Plaza in Atlanta includes a lighted pole and flag, trees, benches, about 1,100 bricks with names of veterans and citizens and magnificent murals.
These are all in support of the three granite tablets whose six sides have the names of veterans who gave their lives in the five 20th century wars. The veterans are:
Spanish American 1898-99: 2,446 died
World War I 1917-18: 116,708 died.
World War II 1941-46: 407,316 died
Korean War 1950-53: 54,246 died
Vietnam War 1961-73: 58,174 died
Inscribed upon one tablet is the purpose the memorial:
"Lest we forget. Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women who gave their lives for freedom and in honor of all who served our nation in uniform in its time of need to preserve and protect our American way of life.
"Erected November 11, 1990, by the American Legion J. E. Manning Post 258; Disabled American Veterans Chapter 177: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5870.
"With support from area veterans, families and friends. Freedom has never been free."
The bronze plague announcing the land gift is in memory of Atlanta visionaries William David Lanier (1847-1930); Thomps Robins Richey (1872-1934); and Mozelle Richey Smith (1910-2001).
W.D. Lanier spent most of his years as a citizen in Cass County and was "a good citizen," his obituary read when he died at age 83. He had joined the Confederacy army at age 17, only to be captured at the Battle of Mansfield, Louisiana. He served as a Texas Legislator representing Cass County for four terms. His daughter Mattie Lanier married T. R. Richey.
T. R. Richey was termed a self-made man with a variety of business and social skills. He was president of 1st National Bank, president of the chamber and Rotary, mayor and also the owned the Ford automotive dealership. He died at age 70.
Mozelle Smith was T. R. and Mattie Lanier's daughter who championed projects improving Atlanta. She started the Women's Auxiliary of Atlanta Memorial Hospital, taught Sunday school at First Methodist and held many religious book reviews. The Mozelle Lanier Richey Community Center, dedicated in 2003, is named for her.