WEIS Radio had the opportunity to speak to both Betty Mize, widow of Medal of Honor Recipient Col. Ola Lee Mize, who is the name sake of Ola Lee Mize Patriots Park, and the City of Gadsden Director of Commercial Development and Community Affairs, John Moore today.

Speaking with Mrs. Mize, she first spoke of her husband. We discussed his service, and the Medal of Honor. Of the award, she stated Col. Mize had always stated he felt that his men were just as worthy of the award as he was. “He would say, he wished they has given it the them.” I asked her about the park being named in his honor, and she said that it was an honor, but represented not only him, but those he served with, and all veterans.

When asked if she had been made aware of any plans to changes to the park, she shad she had not been made aware. Not until earlier this week, when she attended a meeting of the Gadsden Etowah Patriot’s Association. She stated the first she heard of it, was when at the meeting a representative ( John Moore ) of the mayor came to the meeting. She said she had seen him before at events. She stated “The mayor never comes to the patriotic events. At least not the ones I have been to. He always sends him (Moore.) She spoke of the ceremony where a bronze statue of her husband had been dedicated. She said it was beautiful, and a lot of work had been done, and money raised to purchase it. She was proud of it, said Moore was sent then as well.

She said of the meeting, that was the first she had heard of any changes, and that the Army tank at the park was being removed. She said Moore stated the tank leaving was “more or less a done deal.” She said he said “It could be gone tomorrow, or in two or three days.” When asked if she would ever be open for it, or any of the exhibits or artifacts to be removed, she said “No, I would never give my blessing.” She stated she believed any changes should “be put before the public to decide.”

We asked if at any point, the city had ever reached out to her regarding the park, or any changes to it. She stated they had not, they never have even before (Prior Administrations). She stated the Patriots Association had always included her and discussed issues with the park. She said “The have  always been good and kind to me.”

I asked her how finding out about this was, and she said it was “Disrespectful, and not only to my husband. but his comrades and the men in his (unit.) She laughed, and said it was difficult to remember what to call all of the people he had served with. “He traveled a lot with his job, and I stayed home a lot.” She stated she knew he would be upset with what is going on. “I know he would. I have been very blessed in my 88 years though, and I pray every day that I would not say anything disrespectful.”

Later, when speaking with John Moore, he had been learning a lot on the history of the Mize family.

Moore near the time of the meeting with the Patriots had a family emergency. We expressed our condolences, and thanked him for taking the time to speak with WEIS Radio News.

He expressed deep respect for the Mize family, and for the veterans. He said he had learned how much the park means to many, and how deeply many veterans feel about it. He said that could at first be difficult to understand, not being a veteran. He did not in any way want to disrespect them, and truly hoped to be able to make the park a better place and to improve it for veterans and honor that.

He did acknowledge that there was talk of possibly moving the tank, that it had been in consideration. He said many of the same things we heard from Councilman Chris Robinson regarding the park, safety, improvement, and the condition of the museum.

Those comments can be read in our original article here:

https://weisradio.com/2025/03/06/are-changes-coming-to-ola-lee-mize-patriots-park/

He said the plan was to discuss the plans with the Patriots Association, and that was why he was at the meeting this week. When asked why it was only at this point that they were brought into the conversation, he explained that it took time to put together any plan on a complex issue like this. That the city would need to work on a plan to be able to efficiently present it. He stated he did notify members of the Association he would be coming, and what the topic would entail.

While at the meeting he stated he told Association members “I am going to check on the status of the tank.” He promised them “I will find out” what is going on and that “I will put a plan together for you guys and find out.”

When asked about members saying they were told that it could be only a matter of days, or that it could be done even over night, he tried to think back to anything that could be interpreted that way. He says the only thing he could think of, was he had said “I don’t want yall to drive by in a week  and it be gone.” He was referring to, he wanted to find out the plan, and let them know, and not find out once it was removed if it was. He meant it as showing he was going to get them information, not that that was planned.

He said he understands the importance of the Association being involved. In the end he wants to park to “be updated and enhanced to something the Patriots Association would be agreeable to and proud of.” He said “We need to get together and look at what artifacts could be moved around and closer to the monument in a way that we can enhance the park, provide more parking, and make it more accessible and and better for veterans to visit.”

He went further in discussing some ideas for enhancements, “We would like to create a photo walls, and interactive buttons. We would like to make it more educational, where you could push the buttons and the exhibits would talk.” He stated they are currently working on acquiring  grant money to be used for just such ideas.

After speaking with representatives from both the association and with the city, as well as Mrs. Mize, it seems hopeful that a common ground can possibly be found. There may be legal questions still to answer, and there is obviously some work to do. Communication is always important, and respect for what the park is all about. Nothing is final at this time, the fate of the tank is still not decided.

The parties will get together Thursday for a meeting at city hall. We will continue to monitor the happenings, as most likely will many of the veterans and concerned community members who have reached out or spoken up on the issue will as well. Sometimes it takes a little passion to spark positive communication and healthy change. Hopefully that can be the case here. One thing we know, is that there is a lot of love in the community for those who have served, and they are willing to be vocal and be involved, and while that may sometimes be messy, most can probably agree there could be worse problems to have.