The American 4th Infantry Division Memorial in Peoples' Park

Tiverton hosted many thousands of troops in the build-up to the D-Day landings of June 1944 and some of those veterans from the USA who are now in their 80’s hope to organise a group visit to our town in June 2011 to pay their respects at the memorial to the US 4th Infantry Division in the Peoples’ Park. Plans are in hand with the Friends of the Peoples’ Park, and with Mid-Devon District Council to replace the existing damaged memorial tree with a new specimen of American Ash. Richard Grant Monumental Masons of West Exe are being commissioned by the US Army veterans to clean-up and add a fresh dedication to the stone itself. There remains a mystery: just who was the unknown person who arranged for the memorial stone and trees to be placed in our park?
Does anyone know the answer?

I don't know the answer, but I'm already looking forward to this memorial service already and seeing the new memorial being unveiled in the park.

Update in February 2011 regarding the memorial in our Peoples' Park to the American 4th Infantry Dovision who were billeted in our town in the Second World War:
The Veterans' Association for the Ivy Division (Roman IV = 4 ... geddit?) completed the fundraising for a new memorial last month and signed the contract with Richard Grant Memorial Masons of West Exe to get the work started. It will be granite and just over 5 feet tall - not all that dissimilar to the beautiful memorial erected by the Burma Star Association in the rose garden in Phoenix Lane. The masons will supervise not only the erection of the new stone but also the resiting of the existing stone which presently stands by the main park gate. It was the poor neglected state of the old memorial which prompted my hope to get the American Veterans interested in improving matters more than a year ago.
The site approved by the park trustees is betwen the park shelter and the north gate, close to the hedge. Two flower beds have already been planted up and the space between will have the two memorials. Additionally, mid-Devon Council have ordered two American "sweet gum trees" to flank the stones. Although only six feet high initially, they will grow in time to provide a long lasting and beautiful location for quiet comtemplation about the brave D-Day veterans who stayed in our town.
More news will follow later this year about a dedication service in the park.

Hello Gazjoe
Thank you for showing the support of the local Army Cadets. Arrangements for a dedication service are being negotiated with the Royal British Legion, and our Town Clerk, Mr Vanderwolfe, by myself and Colonel Tim Courtenay. We shall be delighted to have you on board and will be pleased to give you details when known. May we have your contact details please?
John Norfolk

The Memorial is to be dedicated with a parade of military and civic honours on Friday 3rd June 2011 at midday.
Residents are invited to come and join this occasion in the Peoples Park and we suggest assembling at 11.30 so as to be ready to welcome our American visitors and the Mayor's party who will arrive at 11.50.
My most grateful thanks are given to Tiverton Town Council for their sposorship of the event and to Mid-Devon DIstrict Council for their hard work in preparing the site by he north gate.