Blog Layout

Sandy Springs unveils Veterans Park sculptures in holiday tribute

Sunny K Park • March 11, 2025

U.S. Marine Corps Col. John McDonough, (retired), delivers the keynote address at the Sandy Springs Veterans Day Tribute in Byers Theatre on Monday. (Photo by Bob Pepalis)

Sandy Springs commemorated Veterans Day with a special keynote address and the unveiling of two new sculptures at Veterans Park.


In a keynote address, Sandy Springs’s first city manager, John McDonough, said veterans’ sense of duty, honor, and sacrifice continue to shape the nation. McDonough is a retired U.S. Marines colonel who served in Iraq.


“Let us not only remember the sacrifices of those who serve but also recognize our responsibility to honor their legacy by living up to the values they defend, the freedom, safety, and opportunities we enjoy today were secured by the courage and commitment of our veterans,” McDonough said during his remarks.

Sunny Park, who provided the bulk of funding for the artwork, “Be the Light,” shared how his experiences as a child in Korea showed him the importance of veterans and democracy in the United States. (Photo by Bob Pepalis)

Through experiences in the Sahara Desert, southern France, Egypt, the Mojave Desert, Korea, and around the Mediterranean, McDonough said he witnessed the incredible dedication of his fellow service members, whether operating in extreme cold, freezing rain, sandstorms, or enduring the intense heat of the desert. Through those experiences, his fellow Marines remained positive and found humor in the situation.



“That sense of camaraderie and shared sacrifice is something that I carry with me to this day,” McDonough said.

After McDonough’s remarks at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, attendees crossed the street to the park for the sculpture dedications.


David Boemig, right, funded the sculpture by Kevin Chambers entitled, “Three Generations,” and shared why Veterans Park was important to him. Standing from left are Chambers, fellow artist Curtis Pittman, and U.S. Marine veteran Jared Flood, whose poem helped inspire Pittman’s work, “Be the Light.”

Curtis Pittman’s “Be the Light,” a 33-foot internally lit structure designed to emulate a flame, was designed so visitors can walk under and through the sculpture. Pittman said he couldn’t have created his work without the influence and poem by his high school friend and veteran, Jared Flood, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1999 to 2005.


“He is a part of the creation because his poem and his saying is the metaphor,” Pittman said.

The artist had his friend, Flood, read the poem.


The True battle begins when the bullets stop flying,

choices for where life or death flow.

Love and fear grow,

a place where light and darkness know your name,

a torch to your soul,

forever burning its flame.


Sunny Park, who funded Pittman’s artwork, immigrated to the United States from South Korea. He described his firsthand experience with U.S. veterans including seeing many of them dead and dying in front of him when he was a child.


“I saw so many of them. They are husband of somebody, father of somebody, or son of somebody,” Park said.


He said those veterans not only served Americans but came to Korea and saved 50 million people in South Korea. When those soldiers first arrived, South Korea was the second poorest nation. Park said now it has the ninth-largest economy in the world.


Artist Kevin Chambers created “Three Generations,” a bronze statue depicting a multi-generational family honoring a loved one who made the ultimate sacrifice.


“Part of being an artist, especially being a sculptor, is you get a few opportunities along the way to create something much bigger than you, much bigger than all of us,” Chambers said.


David Boemig, who donated the funds for Chambers’ sculpture, said Veterans Park was reminds visitors that character, not currency, is the greatest asset.


Source: https://roughdraftatlanta.com/2024/11/11/sandy-springs-veterans-day/

Kevin Chambers father was the inspiration for the serviceman in his sculpture shown above. (Photo by Bob Pepalis)

Curtis Pittman describes his creative process for his artwork, “Be the Light,” which towers over Veterans Park in the photo. (Photo by Bob Pepalis)

Kevin Chambers’ dad, right, stands beside his son’s sculpture, “Three Generations,” which used him as the model for the serviceman. (Provided by City of Sandy Springs)

By Sunny K Park March 11, 2025
The Ellis Island Honors Society honors the importance of immigration to America’s prosperity and celebrates the contributions immigrants and their progeny have made to our nation. In 1986, Ellis Island Honors Society founded the Ellis Island Medals of Honor to commemorate the indefatigable spirit of those who immigrated to the United States during the Ellis Island era.  The Medal is presented annually to those who have shown an outstanding commitment to serving our nation either professionally, culturally or civically, among other criteria.
By Sunny K Park March 11, 2025
Artist Curtis Pittman, left, cheers as local philanthropist and business leader Sunny Park, right, and his family cut the ribbon Nov. 11 on Veterans Park’s new sculpture — “Be the Light.” The Veterans Day ceremonies in Sandy Springs also saw the unveiling of Kevin Chambers’ “Three Generations” at the park. HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
By Sunny K Park December 17, 2024
김영삼 전 대통령의 서거 소식을 들으니 그분이 미국의 한인들에게 당부한 말씀이 새삼 생각난다. 그분과는 백악관 만찬에서 잠시 만난 게 전부지만 미국 한인들의 장래를 걱정하며 과감하게 대화를 이끌던 모습이 생생하다. 그는 한국 정가를 기웃거리던 한인의 일부가 줄기차게 제기한 '교민청' 설치 요청에 확실하게 결론을 냈다. "이민 갔으면 그곳에서 뿌리내리고 잘살아라. 모국에 기대 걸어봐야 '국물'도 없다." '고국 발전에 기여하고 싶다'는 일부 한인의 희망에 대해서도 "'미꾸라지'급인 현재의 한인 사회로는 용도 미달이니 '잉어'급 정도로 커진 다음에 보자"고 했다. 그는 한인들과 만날 때마다 "현지에서 뿌리내리고 충실한 미국 국민으로 살아가라"고 당부했다. 재미 한인의 '응석'을 단호하게 거절하며 이민자로서 긍지를 갖고 살라고 주문하는 그에게 실질적 지도자라는 인상을 받았다. 지금 미국 한인 사회에서는 한국 국회의원 선거를 위한 선거인 명부 등록 캠페인이 벌어지고 있다. 머지않아 각 정당의 입후보자들이 나타나 한인회와 향우회 등을 동원해 득표 활동을 벌일 것이다. 그러면 이른바 '한인 사회 지도자'들도 덩달아 활동할 것이다. 지금 미국은 내년 대선 캠페인이 한창인데 많은 이의 관심이 이곳 생활과 직접 관련 없는 한국 총선에 가있는 듯하다. 많은 한인이 볼 때 한인 사회에서의 한국 선거운동은 우리 이민자들이 미국에 뿌리내리고 사는 데 오히려 장애가 되고 있다. 우리들이 가진 몇 표를 얻기 위해 동포 사회를 한국에서처럼 동과 서, 그리고 남과 북 출신 그룹으로 분열시키는 한국 정치인들의 염치없는 행태를 서거한 김영삼 대통령이 보았으면 무어라고 할까 궁금하다. 이민 온 우리 같은 사람들이 우선시해야 할 일은 현지 정착과 동화이다. 고국이 잘되길 바라는 마음이야 누구나 같지만, 이민을 했으면 이민자답게 그 나라 국민으로서 성숙한 모습을 보여야 한다. 우리 한인 사회의 진정한 발전을 걱정하는 한국의 정치 집단은 없다고 본다. 함량 미달 '지도자'들이 대표하는 오합지졸 한인 사회를 자신의 이익을 위해 이용하려는 자들만 있을 뿐이다. 후세를 위해 다시 한 번 결심하자. 올바른 소속감을 갖지 못하면 어디서건 쓸모없는 집단으로 남는다. 우리가 애지중지 키우고, 빚내서 공부시키는 아들 딸에게도 악영향을 준다. 출처: https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/12/15/2015121503961.html
Share by: