WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — After more than a decade, veterans in Warner Robins are once again getting excited.
On Monday, the city announced plans to move forward with a Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
During the press conference, Mayor LaRhonda Patrick said the city secured 5 acres of land near the intersection of Watson Boulevard and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Parkway.
Leaders are still discussing the layout, but they plan to have a wall that honors the 1,584 Georgia soldiers that didn't return home from the Vietnam War. They will also have a Survivors Guilt statue, statues of soldiers' feet, a 'welcome home' bench and an additional building.
As veterans gathered, they reflected on the road it took to get here. Back in 2012, Vietnam Veterans received a bench welcoming them home, as the kickoff to their memorial.
"We were getting ready for this day, but we didn't know it would come 12 years later," Vietnam Veteran Bill Carey said.
Years later, their journey to getting an official memorial continued, when veterans received a statue that now sits in the City Hall Building. Part of the display honors fallen soldiers, and it also includes a sign recognizing survivors guilt.
Also included is a statue of a man holding a dog tag. That dog tag pays homage to a Macon Vietnam soldier who received the medal of honor.
Now the journey ahead looks more promising, as the veterans are finally set to get their spot.
"The city of Warner Robins is a proud owner of a Vietnam Veterans Memorial," Patrick said during the conference.
She said it will sit in the Peach County portion of the city. The city faced two failed attempts at securing land before this. Now, they've come full circle because the land was donated by a Vietnam Veteran.
Michael Diggers was not able to make it to Monday's meeting, but in this season of thanks, people say they're extremely grateful for him.
Patrick says it's a victory for her, because she and her administration have worked hard to bring this memorial. She also has personal ties - two of her grandfathers were drafted for the war.
"I also have a great uncle whose name will be on that wall," Patrick said.
Carey says for the veterans this allows them to have some mental peace, because after more than a decade of pleading with city leaders they will finally have a proper welcome home.
"I want them to be happier than they've ever been," Carey said. "This is the beginning. This isn't the end - it's the beginning."
Next steps include putting out bids for construction. The city hopes to have a construction timeline by the middle of next year.