DALTON, Ga. — Each year, Dalton and Whitfield County residents show their patriotism in numerous ways, from the volunteers who put out flags on the Whitfield County courthouse lawn and King Street on national holidays to the crowds that pack downtown for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July to the big parade each Veterans Day.

But some local veterans say there’s one way the area could do better.

“Murray County has a phenomenal veterans memorial park,” said George Lo Greco. “McDonough has a phenomenal park. Why can’t we?”

Lo Greco and Leo Whaley are members of a group of local veterans who would like to create such a park.

“This is a great opportunity for the community,” said Whaley. “Right now, we just want to get the word out. We want to see if the community support is there. We want to see if this is something people will support financially. The amount of money we raise will dictate the size of the park and what we can do there.”

There is currently a Veterans Memorial Park in Dalton at the corner of Veterans Drive and Mitchell Street, which was created as a joint project between the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the city of Dalton.

Lo Greco and Whaley say there’s nothing wrong with that park except that it is small.

“We need a memorial park that has a concession stand. We need a stage where bands can perform. We need a covered picnic area. We need a place where we can hold events,” said Lo Greco.

They say they don’t have a specific design or location in mind for the park.

“It could go in Heritage Point Park,” said Lo Greco. “It could go downtown where the Lee Printing building used to be or the corner of Thornton Avenue and Waugh Street where the old City Park School used to be. It could go across the street from the existing memorial park. It could go somewhere else. Before we decide that, we have to see if the community support and the money is there.”

Local officials say they would be willing to talk to the group about providing a location if they can come up with the money to build the park.

“I’ve already been approached by someone about this a few weeks ago, and I’m excited,” said Dalton Mayor Dennis Mock. “If they get some serious support and raise the money, we certainly would talk to them.”

Whitfield County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mike Babb said the veterans will likely prefer a site inside the city of Dalton, where the county doesn’t have any parks.

“I won’t be in office when this comes together,” said Babb, who is retiring when his term ends at the end of December. “But I feel pretty confident that if they are interested in a place in one of our parks the board will be willing to talk to them.”

Whaley said members of the group have already discussed one fundraising idea. Members of American Legion Post 112 have been working with Operation Song, which brings veterans together with professional songwriters out of Nashville, Tenn., to write songs based on their experiences. They have created a CD of songs based on those Dalton veterans, and Whaley said they could sell copies of that CD to raise funds for the park.

“We plan to set up an organization so that people can make tax-deductible contributions, and we want to get people from all walks of life involved in this,” he said.

Lo Greco, who is an insurance agent, said if the group can get sufficient community support there are insurance companies that will provide matching funds.

“Right now, we just want to see if the interest is there,” he said.

Those interested in finding out more about the group and plans for the park can write to American Legion Post 112, P.O. Box 932, Dalton, GA 30721.