Veterans groups ask council to remove private monuments from Veterans Park and adopt placement guidelines

Representatives of local veterans organizations asked the Princeton City Council on Jan. 20, 2025, to remove privately placed monuments from Veterans Park and to adopt written guidelines ensuring the park continues to honor all veterans equally.

Lynn Mullen, representing the American Legion post and local veterans groups, told the council the park was dedicated as a space to honor all who served and that small 2‑by‑4‑inch plaques in the gazebo list deceased local veterans without rank or prominence. Mullen said several privately installed monuments and larger plaques in the park now draw more attention than the modest plaques and, she said, “we respectfully request that these individual types of monuments be removed from the park.”

Mullen asked the council to adopt written rules to guide future improvements and to defer future upgrades to consultation with the veterans group to preserve the park’s intent.

Council members discussed options and the need to be respectful to family members. Council member comments noted value in the veterans’ stewardship and suggested seeking alternate locations for existing private monuments. The council proposed working with veterans and family members to relocate items and assigned a staff point person to coordinate the effort; the council did not vote on removing any monuments at the meeting.

Mayor Mabry said the city would contact family members to propose respectful alternative locations and would assign a staff person to work with the veterans’ organization to develop a plan. Council member suggestions included the industrial park gazebo as one possible alternate location; the council emphasized outreach and respectful relocation.

Ending: The council set a follow‑up to develop written guidelines and to coordinate with veterans and affected families; no removal was ordered at the meeting.