Del City, Oklahoma Patriot Park Memorials

Patriot Park features a series of six memorials which recognize the service and sacrifice of U.S. military veterans in general, and veterans with ties to Del City in particular. The Park has evolved over time as new memorials were added. Currently (2017), memorials cover a timeframe between 1995, when the first memorial was dedicated, and 2014, when the last was dedicated. The Del City War Memorial was dedicated on November 11, 1995, in honor of all veterans and displays the names of 21 Del City veterans who paid the supreme sacrifice. It is a vertical reddish granite pillar, resting on a concrete pad, at the end of a central concrete walk leading to the memorial. The walkway branches off the main walk and circles the memorial before extending to other memorials. The monument is set among shrubbery, floral plantings, rocks, and 3 flagpoles flying the American, State of Oklahoma, Service (Blue Star), and POW/MIA Flags. Two concrete benches are situated in front of the monument along the walkway, and a concrete stand with a dedicatory bronze plate is placed at the end of the central walk in front of the memorial. Two floodlights are used to illuminate the Memorial and flags at night. Continuing along the walkway to the east, the next memorial for viewing is the “Soldier’s Cross” Battlefield Memorial. The central feature of the memorial is a raised bronze monument on a black granite base, atop a large, raised, tan-colored concrete block. The monument was dedicated on November 11, 2008, to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan (Global War on Terrorism) conflict. The bronze pinnacle of the monument is an M16 rifle, muzzle down (as if imbedded in the ground), with a helmet on the butt stock, and a pair of combat boots at the base. The monument is in the middle of a circular display, enclosed by a black metal fence, and set among shrubbery and floral plantings. Two black wooden silhouettes of soldiers kneeling in homage to the fallen are on either side of the monument. Also inside the enclosure are a black metal pedestal stand with a bronze plate, with a quotation about the need to preserve the grave sites of the fallen, and a floodlight for illumination. The memorial display is surrounded by concrete walkways that permit viewing from multiple angles. The walk behind the “Soldier’s Cross” Memorial splits. The walk to the right (south) leads to a static display of the Armored Command Carrier M-114A1, which was used in command and reconnaissance roles by the U.S. Army, primarily in Europe, and also during the Vietnam War. The Carrier is positioned on a concrete pad along the walkway, with a vehicle data sign, and 2 floodlights for illumination, nearby. The tracked armored fighting vehicle was amphibious and could be deployed by parachute. The Carrier was dedicated on November 11, 2008 in honor of all U.S. Army veterans who served aboard this and similar tracked fighting vehicles, and specifically members of the 11th Armored Cavalry who fought from the Carrier during the Vietnam War. The name of a member of the Del City community who served in the Army, and after retirement, served as the Director of Del City Public Works, is inscribed on the rear of the Carrier in tribute to his service. Moving north along the walk from the Carrier, leads past a low concrete wall on the east side, to the Patriot Park Mausoleum. The wall displays 6 golden medallions representing, from viewing left to right, the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Merchant Marine. A series of lights imbedded in the walk throw light on the medallions at night. At the north end of the low wall, begins the Mausoleum display. A court fronts the Mausoleum structure, with a large bronze plaque mounted on a low wall to the east (right), and 3 gray metal posts aligned to the west (left). The middle of the court and a concrete strip beneath the 3 posts on the west side have been colored a rose-orange color. The wall-mounted bronze plaque to the east (right) names the Mausoleum, lists the date-time of the dedication as November 11, 2010 at 2:00 p.m., and recognizes city officials, corporate sponsors, organizations and individuals who helped establish the Mausoleum. The 3 metal posts on the west side each feature built-in lights which illuminate the court and the plaque. The Mausoleum structure is rectangular with a top that overhangs the front by some 6 feet. It is some 14 feet across the front, some 11 feet tall, and a bit over 6 feet deep from front to rear. The enclosed part of the structure has polished black granite on the front and side walls. The front wall is divided some 3 ½ feet up from the base, and the granite is replaced by glass, which is setback about a foot, and extends across the structure to the granite side walls, and up to the top. This permits viewing of the interior of the Mausoleum. The rear and top of the structure are made of concrete and are tan in color. Gaps between the black granite exterior side walls and tan concrete rear wall and top, toward the rear and top of the interior structure, have been replaced with glass panels to permit ambient natural light into the interior. The interior has white walls and contains: an American Flag displayed vertically against the back wall; a series of 21 memorial plaques “In Honor and Memory” of veterans with their pictures, information regarding their birth and death dates, rank, Branch of Service, and the war period during which they served. War periods include World War II, Vietnam War, and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Global War on Terrorism). Also, prominently displayed is a mural, mounted front and center, in a casket, which is elevated by a supporting stand. The mural depicts Vietnam War scenes, including: a view of the Vietnam Wall with a soldier saluting, soldiers on patrol in a rice paddy, a soldier holding the high ground, a U.S. soldier carrying 2 Vietnamese children in his arms, 2 Vietnamese children in bamboo foliage, a helicopter air assault operation inserting troops, a smaller Navy river patrol boat (PBR) patrolling a “brown water” channel, an aircraft carrier launching aircraft, and another larger Navy fast patrol craft (PCF) or “Swift Boat” on an inland waterway. The casket contains memorabilia that was left by visitors, during the exhibit of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall “The Wall That Heals” in Del City on July 15-17, 2005. The memorabilia is in tribute to veterans who paid the supreme sacrifice during the Vietnam War. In addition, an American Legion ceremonial wreath is displayed on the interior east wall of the Mausoleum. The Blue Star Memorial Marker is located at the end of a concrete walk leading northeast from the Del City War Memorial. The Marker was placed in this approved site to honor service in the U.S. Armed Forces, and dedicated on November 11, 2011. The Marker features the National Garden Clubs, Inc. logo mounted on top, a cast-aluminum, copper & olive drab green-colored plate with gold-leaf raised lettering, affixed on a 7-foot pole. The center plate is 41” high and 45” wide, and the marker stands some 7’ 6” tall overall. The lettering is identical on both sides. A large blue 5-pointed star is the focal point of the marker, followed by the wording: “BLUE STAR MEMORIAL” and “A TRIBUTE TO THE ARMED FORCES THAT HAVE DEFENDED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” The sponsoring Midwest City Council of Garden Clubs in cooperation with the City of Del City and Del City Beautification Committee are recognized. The Park’s newest monument is the Women’s Veterans Monument that was dedicated on November 11, 2014. It is also the largest and most complex of all the memorials. It is situated independently on higher ground to the north of the other veteran memorials with its own long concrete entrance walkway. During the approach along the walkway, the first feature of the memorial encountered is a large boulder, with a large bronze marker plaque mounted on the side facing the walk. The plaque identifies the WOMEN’S VETERAN’S MONUMENT, date of dedication, the city and seal of the City of Del City, Oklahoma, principals of the city government, and other individuals and businesses instrumental in the design, development, creation, and construction of the memorial display. Proceeding up the walk, as the ground begins to rise, a low concrete wall, capped and walled on the interior with polished black granite, frames the walkway. The wall becomes progressively taller as it moves up the slope toward a flagpole. The entire memorial is walled and is characterized by polished black granite, on caps and interior walls, and light tan concrete exterior walls. The contrast is striking. At the top of the entry walk, at the entry, is the focal point of the monument: a flagpole flying the American Flag, with 5 life-size bronze statues of women service members surrounding the pole, standing at attention, facing outward and holding hands in an unbroken circle around the Flag. The pole and women are positioned on a circular raised polished black granite platform, which is also a water feature, with 5 water fountains emitting water which flows across the top, over the edge, down the walls, and into a brick-lined collection channel around the base. The platform has a series of recessed lights around the statues to provide up-lighting at night. The women are in their respective service uniforms with headgear, and represent (clockwise from entry) the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Marine Corps. The platform is centered in a circular area with a light tan concrete floor, and polished black granite walls which bear the 5 Service Medallions. Concrete benches are spaced around the circle for seating. Two floodlights are positioned on the grounds outside the monument to the northwest and southeast to illuminate the Flag and statues at night. A second opening at the north end of the circular display area allows for movement along a broad, walled concrete walkway to another major feature of the monument. The wide walk is separated in the middle by a water channel lined with bricks, and thus forms 2 separate walks. The walk and channel run slightly downhill to a large rectangular court with a brick-outlined reflecting pool in the center. The wall becomes progressively shorter as it moves down the slope toward the pool. The channel permits water to flow from the upper flagpole feature to the lower reflecting pool. The bottom of the pool is black granite which provides a nice reflective surface as well as being attractive. The feature attractions in the court are 2 bronze statues of a female U.S. Army noncommissioned officer (NCO), and a young girl, symbolically her daughter, sitting on the low east wall. The NCO, a combat veteran assigned overseas with the Oklahoma National Guard 45th Infantry Brigade, wears the Army Combat Uniform with appropriate insignia, and appears engaged in conversation with the girl. The girl appears to be paying rapt attention, looking up, with a smile, and playfully dons the NCO’s cap. A bronze plate attached to the granite wall close by, identifies the NCO by name, indicates she is a native of Del City, a First Sergeant with the Oklahoma National Guard, has participated in 2 national disaster relief operations and deployed overseas on active duty for combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has been awarded 3 Bronze Star Medals for meritorious achievement. A smaller plate beside the girl, on the granite wall, identifies the girl by name. Both plates indicate these features were dedicated on November 11, 2014, at the same time the monument was dedicated. The WOMEN”S VETERANS MONUMENT is symbolic in many ways. The 5 women service members holding hands around “Old Glory” illustrates the common bond shared by women veterans, regardless of branch of service, and their commitment to rally around the Flag in defense of the nation. The statue of the woman soldier and the girl symbolizes the varying roles of women in the military, as women, members of the armed forces, citizens, wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, leaders, veterans, and patriots. It likewise represents the legacy potential for future generations of service women. (Note: Patriot Park is the site of annual Veterans Day Ceremonies in which Active and Reserve Component military units and individuals, Veteran Service Organizations, civic, governmental, and fraternal organizations, local businesses, citizens, youth groups, and veterans participate. The park is a very veteran-friendly environment and unique in that it participates in the Del City “Adopt a Unit Program” by adopting 2 units: an Air Wing from nearby Tinker Field, and a Transportation Company of the Oklahoma National Guard. In addition, it provides reserved parking for combat wounded veterans visiting the facility.) (Note: The Blue Star symbol is borrowed from a World War I tradition to recognize serving members of the Armed Services. That tradition continues with a blue 5-pointed star centered on special banners (flags) with a white field and red border. The banner is typically displayed in homes, to denote a family member actively serving in a war or during a period of armed conflict. Patriot Park currently flies a Service Flag which is also known as a Blue Star Flag.) (Note: The Women’s Monument was paid for by a city sales tax approved by the voters, to raise the required $1.5 million dollars.) (Note: The Del City Women’s Veterans Monument is purported to be the second largest bronze women’s veterans monument in the nation.)