Jacksonville breaks ground on new Lejeune Memorial Gardens welcome area

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — The City of Jacksonville and Onslow County have partnered with state funding and the military to establish a new welcome area and restroom facility at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place Thursday morning, where the public was invited to join in the celebration. The planning of this facility has been 20 years in the making and will cost roughly $700,000.

It all started with Pat and Lee Walker who had a welcome center and bathrooms in their original design for the site’s Vietnam Memorial.

“Oh, it’s just emotional, obviously. Very emotional. I wish Mom could be here,” Robert and Sharon Klenotiz with the Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation said. “She put all the work into this. This is her dream, you know? We’re just lucky enough to be the ones to help bring it to fruition.”

The welcome area and restroom will be located at the parking area and path entry to the memorials. Officials hope to have the project done in the next six months.

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