There are two landmarks that have defined the Elizabethton, Tennessee, downtown area for over 100 years. One is the Covered Bridge and the other is the Veterans Monument. Both of them have come to signify important aspects of the history and culture of the region, and serve as essential attractions for both residents and tourists.
Created to honor soldiers of Carter County in all the wars from the Revolutionary War to present date, the Veterans Monument (also referred to in some places as the Soliders Monument has a special significance to residents of the county. That significance draws in audiences from around the region and has also enabled a legacy that is set to endure for far longer than the next hundred years.
Honoring All of the Soldiers of Carter County
The Veterans Monument was erected in 1912 as a memorial to the people who had left their homes and families to serve in the Revolutionary War as well as the Civil War. It was built so that everyone in the area would always remember all those that fought in these wars as well as all the ones that followed.
The obelisk form of the Monument goes back to Ancient Egypt and was chosen to represent the soldiers that have fallen over the centuries. The base of the Monument was constructed out of river rock that was brought from banks of the nearby Doe River and held together by hand-mixed cement. The base measures about 20 feet and the body of the structure measures about 65 feet high, which was a significant height when built. The top is a single piece that is pyramid shaped.
The history and form of the Monument have created an attraction for everyone on account of the experiences it has enabled, which continue to influence the culture of the area.
A Central Gathering Place for Residents and Visitors
Featuring two Civil War-era short field cannons along with the ability to walk right up to and around the structure, the Veterans Monument allows visitors to experience the Monument up close and personal. Doing so allows them to get that much closer to the plaques that read, “In Honor of the Veterans of All Wars,” that are on both the east and west sides of the Monument.
The Veterans Monument sits one block away from the Carter County Courthouse, and a little over a block from the Covered Bridge. This placement is part of what allows the Veterans Monument to serve as an attraction for visitors to the area. Depictions of the Monument are indicative of the popularity and appeal it represents, and that’s an appeal which continues to evolve since new monuments have also been incorporated into the space. All of these developments provide new reasons for visitors to come see and experience the Monument.
The Veteran’s Monument has also served as a central place for the community to gather over the decades. In the 1920s and 1930s, hundreds of local residents would gather around the Monument on election night to await the results, which were read by the clerk at the courthouse. During World War II, a special dedicatory service was held around the Monument when the Silver Star was presented to the first person from Carter County killed in that conflict. The Monument continues to be a central focus for current residents, with a Centennial Celebration being held to honor all veterans.
The Monument was refurbished in 1989, and most of these improvements have been funded by local veterans. The latest improvement project was spearheaded by two local ladies, while the landscaping improvements were made possible by a donation by a local veteran. The community has also created places for people to connect with the Veterans Monument online. It’s proof of what the Monument means to and for the community as a whole.
This appeal has enabled a legacy that is about something much bigger than the rock and cement that comprise the Monument and signifies what a monument can mean to a community and for an entire region.
A Legacy Designed to Endure
The Veterans Monument has proven to be one of the most treasured landmarks of both Elizabethton and Carter County, even as other monuments have been erected and celebrated over the years. It’s a showcase of what it can mean for a community and region to erect a monument in order to create a legacy that is designed to endure for the ages.
