Hospers WWII Memorial Park

The park covers about a 1/2 block and contains all but one of the 6 statues pictured below that were created by Fred Reinders and dedicated in 1945. The Iwo Jima monument depicts the flag raising of U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima and honors those who served in World War II. The Goddess of Victory statue represents the coming of Peace, and a cession from war. The shield represents the protection anyone seeks in the time of distress. The sign of the cross indicates the supreme trust and highest of ideals of the Christian faith. The Dragon statue represents hate, greed, jealousy and envy, which are the causes of all wars. The Liberty statue is a representation of the Statue of Liberty, who is holding a torch and clutching a book inscribed with the word LAW. For without law, liberty cannot be upheld. The Fountain statue was to have been a active fountain with water cascading down the three tiers. The missing statue and Fred Reinder’s other works can be viewed in the Hospers Historical Room.