Fayetteville’s North Carolina Veterans Park:Popular Destination for Thousands of Tourists on Independence Day

Fayetteville’s North Carolina Veterans Park is Popular Destination for Thousands of Tourists this Independence Day

Veteran-honoring recreational area celebrates two-year anniversary July 4, 2013

Treasured Fayetteville landmark, North Carolina Veterans Park (NCVP) drew thousands of visitors from across the nation this Independence Day.  Funded by a grant from the North Carolina Legislature in 2008, NCVP is the only state park dedicated to honoring veterans of all five military service branches, and is a major tourist destination for veterans and civilians alike.  Since it’s opening, it has hosted approximately 65,000 visitors annually.

 North Carolina Veterans Park officially opened on July 4, 2011 with a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony attended by Governor Bev Purdue,  U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, and over 3,000 guests and visitors.  This year it celebrates its two year anniversary.

“Independence Day is a great time to visit North Carolina Veterans Park, celebrating the birth of our nation by honoring the many veterans who defend its freedoms.” commented John Meroski, President and CEO of the FACVB. “This beautiful park is just one of many historical attractions in Cumberland County, a community brimming with patriotic spirit, particularly at this time of year.”

As America’s First Military Sanctuary Community, Cumberland County, NC is a hub of military-themed attractions, with NCVP as one of several keystone features that also include Ft. Bragg and the Sicily Drop Zone, the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum, the J.F.K. Special Warfare Museum, and the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex. 

The primary theme of NCVP is, “A Veteran’s Journey: Life Before, During, and After Service.”  With its diverse exhibits and features, the park provides a place for meaningful reflection and inspiration, as it guides guests along the journey of mlitary service. Highlights include a 3,500 square foot Visitor’s Center, seven water features, walking paths, and numerous public art works, including the Oath of Service Wall, which integrates soil from each of North Carolina’s 100 counties and displays 100 bronze casted hands from North Carolina veterans.  The Visitor’s Center includes a Service Ribbon Wall made of fused glass, representing every service medal awarded since the Civil War, as well as a unique chandelier made from 33,500 dog tags.

The North Carolina Veterans Park is located adjacent to the 59,000 square foot Airborne & Special Operations Museum (ASOM). One of the area’s premier attractions, this state-of-the-art educational facility houses exhibits and programs that highlight the honor, courage, duty, and heroic feats of parachute and glider borne troops and the Special Operations Forces. ASOM traces this unique sector of our armed forces from its inception in 1940 to present-day operations.

For more information on Fayetteville/Cumberland County attractions, or to plan your trip, visit The Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (FACVB) website.  

The North Carolina Veterans Park Visitor’s Center is open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday Noon-5pm. The park is always open. The Ft. Bragg Communities of Cumberland County offer free admission.