Veterans Memorial to Expand
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Veterans Memorial to Expand
By Shane Gilreath
SCN Contributing Editor
[email protected]
When SCN first visited the site of the Veterans of the American Revolution Memorial Park in Huntsville, it was a bare plot of land with big dreams. Today, that vision has largely come to fruition, as the park has taken shape in time for the nation’s much anticipated 250th anniversary celebration on July 4, 2026. The memorial honors known Revolutionary War soldiers from Scott County, ensuring that the men who helped secure American independence are recognized for their role in the nation’s founding. Through the park, those patriots have taken their places in both legend and reality, set to be remembered for generations to come, including its inclusion on statewide cultural tourism sites. Leading that effort has been David Jeffers, a Scott County Commissioner and president of the Scott County Historical Society. While Jeffers has often been at the forefront of the project, local leaders say the memorial reflects both a dedication and a broader community commitment.
“David Jeffers has put in countless hours of devotion into honoring Scott County veterans,” said Oneida Mayor Lori Phillips-Jones in November. “He knows all the names and the stories so well, and I very much appreciate his dedication to making sure their legacy is not forgotten.”
Plans for the park grew even grander last week when Jeffers announced at the County Commission meeting that remaining funds from a TN250 grant will be used to add the names of local veterans who served during the War Between the States – expanding the park by a generation and nearly a century of names.
The addition acknowledges one of the most turbulent chapters in Tennessee history. While Tennessee ultimately joined the Confederacy, the state was deeply divided, with much of East Tennessee remaining strongly loyal to the Union. Scott County stood at the center of that divide. In 1861, local residents overwhelmingly opposed secession and famously declared the “Free and Independent State of Scott,” a symbolic protest against Tennessee’s departure from the Union. Though never officially recognized by the Confederacy, the United States, or Tennessee, the Free State of Scott became an enduring symbol of the county’s Unionist heritage, and now the men who served that cause will find a place to be recognized.
Funded entirely through a TN250 grant, the memorial park is part of a statewide initiative commemorating the United States Semiquincentennial. The park is expected to officially open around Memorial Day 2026.
