Memorial in Shawnee recognizes those killed in combat from Spanish-American War to present.
While The American Legion’s history stems from the aftermath of World War I, Legionnaires in Oklahoma have partnered with other veterans service organizations to pay tribute to the fallen from before “The Great War.”
The Veterans Memorial at Woodland Veterans Park in Shawnee, Okla., includes a memorial wall of 10 black granite panels, each six feet wide and six feet tall, inscribed with the names of over 7,000 Oklahoma veterans who have died in combat since the Spanish-American War. Each panel weighs 5,400 pounds.
The Veterans Memorial project began in 2005, as members of The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans formed a committee to build a Veterans Memorial Park in Shawnee. The park includes a 1965 UH-1 “Huey” helicopter, memorials for each of the world wars and flags for each branch of the military. Brick pavers purchased by donors helped fill the park.
Bill Ford, a member of Legion Post 16 in Shawnee, serves on the committee. He told the Shawnee News-Star that the committee met weekly over 11 years on the project.
“We’re very proud to honor the fallen for our country,” Ford told the newspaper.
The names of the fallen were compiled and verified by the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Department of Defense. The memorial site models a five-point star, symbolizing each branch of the military.
A dedication ceremony for the memorial wall took place last December, Post 16 Commander James Comrey said.
- Honor & Remembrance