NATCHEZ — Many Miss-Lou children have memories of playing in Memorial Park on Main Street, but little knew what exactly was the purpose behind their play place.

The original and ongoing purpose of the park is to honor veterans from all military branches, and the Guardians of the Memorial aim to make that a more peaceful and enjoyable experience than ever before.

The Guardians of the Memorial is a recently formed group of eight citizens who are taking on the responsibility of reporting any and all problems in the park.

Anything from loose railings to broken lights are under their charge and it is their goal to eliminate problems before they cause any inconvenience to those looking to honor the country’s service men and women.

One of the guardians, Calvin Woodfork, a retired U.S. Navy officer, said he recently joined the group to help maintain the park.

“It’s my favorite spot in the whole wide world,” Woodfork said. “Not only because it’s the memorial park, but because of the beauty of the park. I go out there and sit and just enjoy the fountain and everything. I think it’s the best park in Natchez.”

Founder and president of the Home With Heroes Foundation Mark LaFrancis formed the committee and found a way to fund it that will further improve the park.

LaFrancis said his plan is to the bring back the buy-a-brick program, which has already helped cobble the pathways of the park with approximately 2,000 honors and memorials to those who served our country.

“People who purchase a brick, and their descendants, will be able to come and see how their individual has been honored.” LaFrancis said.

Each brick costs $40, and the first order has already been placed to get the program started again.

LaFrancis said the section the program is aiming to fill has room for about 500 new bricks and hopes to fill those slots before Veteran’s Day.

Proceeds earned from the brick program that are not used for park upkeep will go to the Helping Hands for Veterans fund, which offers a food bank and minor household improvements at no charge to veterans.

A mapping project is also under way to document each brick in the park to make them easier to find for visitors to the park.

Order forms for bricks are available at City Hall, the Veterans Service office on the second floor of the Senior Center, Reed Insurance in Vidalia and at the Home With Heroes Facebook page or can be received via email from gmarklafrancis@hotmail.com.

You can also donate via PayPal to homewithheroes@live.com.