Cherokee County veterans teamed with local Home Depot teams to clean up the nation's only homeless veteran statue located in Cherokee Veterans Park ahead of the July 4 celebration. The statue, a gift to the 17,000 veterans who live in Cherokee County represents male and female veterans who were homeless in the county. The statue was funded by the veterans and veteran-owned businesses of Cherokee County and with help from Joe Hickey, who runs Canton Funeral Home. The statue was dedicated in 2019 and is a reminder of the struggles homeless veterans have, many with mental health issues across this nation.

Veterans from the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans program, Canton American Legion Post 45, and VFW Post 5262 helped the team pressure wash, put out new mulch, pull weeds and clean the statue as part of a $2,000 Home Depot Foundation grant supporting the materials for the project. We wanted this statue and monument to look pristine ahead of the July 4 celebration, stated Jim LIndenmayer, executive director of the Cherokee County Homeless program and Post 45 service officer.