Press Release issued by SPEDA and shared with permission.
More sponsorship opportunities available for individuals and businesses
First & Farmers National Bank will be the title sponsor of Somerset’s Veterans Memorial Park, a first-of-its-kind space in Pulaski County dedicated to honoring local veterans and their service to their country.
Located at the corner of Oak and Main streets downtown, Veterans Memorial Park is a partnership between the City of Somerset and the Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA). The city owns the property, has paid demolition costs to remove the ailing housing units once located there, and will maintain the park once it is complete. SPEDA is raising money for construction costs through its 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the SPEDA Community Foundation.
SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler said the park’s significance is three-fold — not only will it be a fitting salute to local veterans, but it will beautify downtown and help with persistent drainage challenges by creating a stormwater retention system beneath the park.
“The city’s work created a blank slate for us to come in and raise the money to build a welcoming, inviting and functional space that honors our war heroes,” Girdler said. “We’ve had incredible fundraising success so far. First & Farmers National Bank’s commitment advances this project to the next level and we are so grateful for their support to help get it to the finish line.”
The veterans’ park was announced last year during a Whiskey & War Stories luncheon honoring the founders of Horse Soldier Bourbon, the community’s first bourbon distillery. Money generated from luncheon ticket sales went toward the effort, in addition to funds raised during an auction at an accompanying private event. Since that time, the SPEDA Community Foundation has raised money for the project in a number of ways, including a 22-Push-Up Challenge that raised awareness about veteran suicide rates. Participants were challenged to do 22 push-ups every day for 22 days and contribute $22 to the veterans’ park fund.
The park’s star attraction, as shown in detailed architectural renderings, will be a military tank set atop a platform adorned with the words “United We Stand,” emblems from all branches of military service as well as the First & Farmers logo. The park’s other features include a reflection area with a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, and structures that pay tribute to local veterans who achieved success through their service.
Girdler praised First & Farmers for its dedication to supporting veterans and American values through this sponsorship.
“First & Farmers will be showcased in a classy and non-commercial way through the park’s design, which speaks volumes about their commitment to lifting up our servicemen and women and beautifying downtown Somerset,” Girdler said. “I commend the board of directors for their wholehearted support of this effort and the servant leadership they display day in and day out in our community.”
FFNB President & CEO Terry Pugh expressed appreciation for the landmark project.
“First & Farmers National Bank is proud to be the title sponsor for the Veterans Memorial Park,” Pugh said. “We believe that it is vitally important for every generation to have a place to go and reflect on the lives that were lost and to honor the heroes that continue to serve valiantly to defend our nation. We are indebted to our military and are humbled that Chris Girdler and the SPEDA board offered this opportunity to show our respect.”
Judge John G. Prather Jr. is a member of the First & Farmers National Bank board of directors. Following college, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and served as an OSI Special Agent. Prather shared his thoughts on the bank’s privilege to honor Pulaski County’s local veterans.
“Though not the only community contributor to the ranks of military personnel, First & Farmers National Bank and its local predecessors, First National Bank and Farmers National Bank, the bank’s depositors and its employee family together have a history of substantial participation,” Prather said. “That history includes friends and family in the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and I am confident that when our country calls in the future, folks with ties to this bank and this community will again step forward to serve. We are pleased to honor all our veterans and their families.”
Somerset Mayor Alan Keck said he is excited to see the project progressing so quickly and believes the park will provide significant enhancement to the quality of life downtown.
“Being able to make this small corner of Somerset beautiful and functional is great in-and-of-itself, but what a wonderful opportunity we’ve been given to enhance it even more with a park dedicated to those who have sacrificed so much for their country,” Keck said. “SPEDA has worked tirelessly to make this space meaningful for our veterans and war heroes and I am grateful for First & Farmers and every person, business and organization that has contributed so far to the effort.”
Pulaski County Judge-Executive Steve Kelley said he is proud to be a part of such a wonderful project.
“Designating a memorial park for our veterans and their loved ones is something long overdue here,” Kelley said. “We owe so much gratitude to the ones who sacrificed so much for our freedoms here in this great country. A special thank you to all those who are sponsoring this project, and to SPEDA for coordinating the efforts to make this a reality.”
There are more sponsorship opportunities available for individuals and businesses. Bricks engraved with the name of the donator or in honor/memory of a loved one are available for $500; trees accompanied with a placard in the name of the donator or in honor/memory of a loved one can be planted for $5,000, and benches with matching placards with the name of the donator, or in honor/memory of a loved one are available for $10,000.
Visit somersetkyleads.com/speda-community-foundation/ for more information and to download a sponsorship form.
