WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — The City of Warner Robins announced plans Monday for a new veterans memorial, marking a significant step forward in a project that has been in development for 15 years.
Mayor LaRhonda Patrick revealed during a Veterans Day ceremony that the city has secured 5 acres of land along Vietnam Veterans Memorial Parkway near Interstate 75 for the memorial.
The exact location will be announced in the coming weeks through a joint statement with the landowner, the city and Rep. Sanford Bishop, who's been pushing for the project for a decade.
But for some, it's been a long time with little progress.
"I didn't know anything about any more land being bought or the city acquiring any land," said Vietnam veteran Tom McClendon, who has been advocating for the memorial for over a decade. "I didn't know nothing about it until she said it up on stage."
The announcement comes as welcome news to the veteran community in Warner Robins, which has a significant military presence due to its proximity to Robins Air Force Base. However, the lengthy process has left some veterans feeling frustrated.
"After 15 years of trying to build this memorial, and after so many veterans passing away, I just — I'm just not that excited about it," McClendon said.
Previous plans for the memorial included a different location and potential financial support that didn't materialize.
"We've had land in the past that didn't work out," McClendon said. "Lucky was gonna donate a six-figure dollar donation as far as I know."
Despite his frustration with the timeline, McClendon expressed appreciation for Mayor Patrick's efforts, noting her military family background as a factor in his support for her leadership on the project.
"Mayor Patrick is doing her best," McClendon said. "Being from a military family, that's what really sold me on her to get this done. I just wished it would have gotten done a little bit sooner to where more combat veterans would be alive to see it."
The city has not provided additional details about the memorial's design or construction timeline. Officials say they are waiting for Bishop to schedule a walkthrough of the property before making further announcements.
13WMAZ reached out to the City of Warner Robins for more information but did not receive additional details about the project.