ferriday &8212; Travelers, members of the community and veterans will soon be welcomed into Ferriday by the Bayou Memorial Park.

The park, to be on U.S. 84 on the east side of Ferriday, will offer memorials dedicated to thanking those who have given service to the United States.

&8220;We will be selling American flags to fly in the park to honor or be in memory of anyone who has fought in a war,&8221; Project Chair Lena Bateman said.

The Ferriday Garden Club is sponsoring the construction of the park, costing approximately $8,000. The club received a $1,500 grant to use towards the project and plans to raise the rest through fundraisers and selling flags.

Flags can be purchased for $100 each. As for availability of space for the flags to fly, Bateman said &8220;the park will hold a lot.&8221;

&8220;We are also trying to clean up Ferriday and give people coming through a positive impression and I think this park will do that,&8221; he said.

FGC will place the memorial flags in staggered positions in front of the 13 crepe myrtle trees that the FGC recently planted. Patriotic trees will also be planted to honor local, parish and state officials for making it possible for us to live in a safe and peaceful country, Bateman said. The club, with the help of city officials, will maintain the flags and trees.

&8220;Many citizens have expressed an interest in having such flags in our town,&8221; Bateman said. &8220;This will also offer civic groups, schools and local authorities the opportunity to use this site for patriotic ceremonies.&8221;

The flags will be displayed during national holidays and other appropriate occasions in permanent holders that can be removed during inclement weather, Bateman said. The American flag and the Louisiana flag will fly on the sides of the welcome sign.

In the front of the park, with the flags and trees in the background, FGC will install a Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker in a brick encasement honoring all the armed forces.

Flags can be purchased by sending checks to Lena Bateman at 199 Wecama Drive, Ferriday, LA, 71334-4510.