Along with the rest of the country, Caldwell County will remember the men and women who have served in the armed forces at a Veterans Day service in downtown Lenoir on Wednesday. The ceremony, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., is sponsored by Lenoir American Legion Post 29.

The occasion also will serve as the official dedication of the redesigned Veterans Plaza at the corner of West Avenue and Main Street. The plaza features an existing memorial to honor fallen service members and includes pavers that have been purchased by the public to honor family members and friends for their service to the nation.

For the past year, Lenoir has been selling the pavers to help cover the construction cost of the plaza. To date, more than 600 tiles have been sold, enough to cover approximately half of the $130,000 expense.

Pavers remain on sale at Lenoir City Hall for $125, and an application can be printed at the city's Web site - www.cityoflenoir.com. And while city offices will be closed in observance of Veterans Day, Lenoir City Manager Lane Bailey said the city will have applications available at the ceremony.

"I anticipate in short order that we will have sold enough pavers to cover the cost." Bailey said. "We've heard a little bit of feedback on why we are doing this during these economic times. This is meant to enhance what we've got and to bring people downtown."

The project, Bailey said, is designed to enhance the city's downtown revitalization efforts, which includes a stage and public square at the corner diagonal to the new Veterans Plaza. As with the veterans project, the redesigned public square also involved the sale of pavers.

"This project enhances the memorial we already had there," Bailey said. "It was never meant to replace it. We built on the opposite corner, and you see people reading those names."

Bailey said the service, which will feature Lenoir Mayor David Barlow formally dedicating the site, will mark an area he believes will become a special place for locals and visitors to frequent.

"This site is going to be even more meaningful because it is veterans," Bailey said. "These people served our country so we can enjoy the freedoms that we have. This is going to be sort of sacred ground downtown. It will bring people downtown to remember loved ones and to honor and remember veterans."

While city manager of King several years ago, Bailey said a similar project was received well by the public. Additional information about the Veterans Plaza tile project is available by calling Lenoir City Hall at (828) 757-2200.