Paver bricks to be dedicated during Memorial Day

A Memorial Day program, including the dedication of more than 40 veterans engraved paver bricks for the Rockwood 2000 Memory Lane project, is planned in downtown Rockwood.

The program will begin at 2 p.m. May 30 at Homecoming Park. The paver bricks were sold late last year and early this year during a special offer to honor area veterans and military personnel.

Rockwood Mayor James Watts will give the welcome for the program, with the invocation by Rockwood First Christian Church Pastor Kara Foster.

Rockwood Middle School’s Glee Club will perform the national anthem and other patriotic music.

Area dignitaries, including state Sen. Ken Yager, state Rep. Julia Hurley and Roane County Executive Ron Woody, have been asked to make comments as guest speakers.

The paver brick dedication will close the program. The families of those to be honored have been invited to be part of the ceremony.

The Memory Lane Project is on display at Homecoming Park. Proceeds from the sale of paver bricks is used by Rockwood 2000 for continuing city  beautification and improvements.

More than 300 paver bricks are in place in recognition of area families, Rockwood High School classes, businesses and — in a couple of instances — as tribute to a beloved pet and NASCAR racing legend Dale Earnhardt.

Special paver bricks are in place honoring Boy Scouts and their leaders who were killed in a flood along Whites Creek in 1929, the victims of mining disasters in the late 1920s and members of two Rockwood area families who died in a November 2005 house fire.