Originally named Town Park, the Cannon Mills Company built the park near the mill’s main gate. In 1943, a memorial called “Little Mount Vernon”, named after its likeness to George Washington’s home, was added to the park. Kannapolis residents would come here to pay tribute to our servicemen. Names of over 6000 servicemen from Cabarrus and Rowan Counties were listed on this wooden memorial.
The original structure was replaced in the 1970s with the current pavilion and a unique sundial in order to create an event space in the park. The names of those 6000 service men that were listed on the original memorial were lost until a pamphlet listing those names was brought to the Kannapolis History Associates.
The park now displays a granite Ring of Honor, which displays over 1,700 names of individuals from Cabarrus and Rowan Counties, dating back to the Revolutionary War, who have died in service. Design of Memorial Plaza includes a five-point star honoring the five branches of military service and a bronze wreath reminiscent of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The Memorial also has an eternal flame that burns in honor of those veterans commemorated on the Ring of Honor. Surrounded by cascading water, the eternal flame is decorated with bronze plaques representing the five branches of military service.
Now located next to the Core Lab Building of the NC Research Campus, the original Town Park has been renamed Veterans Park. This beautiful park is a community-gathering place for concerts and special events.
Kannapolis, NC/History
N 35 30.ABC W 080 38.763
In what year was the Town Park renamed Veterans Park?
A. 1999 = (295)
B. 2000 = (598)
C. 2001 = (360)
D. 2002 = (082)
