The Freedom Walk
Launch the media gallery 1 playerBy Garett Riedel
Vietnam veteran Randy Holmes has worked to install and put up the Freedom Walk, an area in Gilman Park dedicated to all the veterans who have served in the armed forces in the Pierce community.
On Friday, April 19, Holmes, with the help of 2022 Pierce High graduate Kelton Anderson, put up an arch over the sidewalk, working to further complete the project that has been in development for over two years.
Anderson, who attended Cornhusker Boys State, designed, painted and stored the sign until it was ready for installation.
“When asked to make the Freedom Walk sign, I felt very honored to be given the opportunity to design and create this sign. I sought this opportunity to be a great way to give back to our veterans,” Anderson remarked. “I designed the sign to be a resemblance of the American flag. The sign is colored blue with pieces of stars cut out. Then I placed 13 red and white colored rebar above and below the wording to represent the 13 stripes on the American flag.”
Holmes states, “The idea came from visiting the College of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri. My wife said I could do a memorial in Pierce and the idea started. The city gave me permission to put it up in the park by the cannon. They were pouring (concrete for) the walkway at that time. With the help of my daughters, they helped me design the square. We called it the Freedom Square and the Freedom Walkway. Kelton Anderson made the Archway over the walkway. The bricks are bought in Lincoln and also engraved there. To purchase a brick you have to have lived or now live in Pierce County. The square holds 400 bricks veteran's bricks and by this memorial day, 257 bricks and veteran's names will be there. Thanks to the many volunteers, legion members, and donations, The Freedom Square is a reality. It took all of them to accomplish this”
Anyone wishing to look at The Freedom Square will see 13 bars on the sign, which resemble the first 13 original colonies.
Forms to purchase a brick can be found on Facebook on the page titled Freedom Square Pierce County Nebraska. Bricks are $100.
