Veterans raise awareness, money for memorial park

In an effort to raise awareness and secure donations for Shawnee’s proposed veterans memorial park, members of local veterans organizations have set up shop at the Pottawatomie County Free Fair.
“We’re here pushing the park, and to make the chapter known and raise a few funds for the chapter,” said Tom Smith, veteran service officer of Shawnee’s Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 54.
Smith said he and his fellow veterans have received positive feedback from the fair’s visitors. They’ve even raised a little money in their efforts.
“Not a bad response so far,” Smith said.
The group hopes for a bigger response with today’s bigger crowd.
The memorial will be built in Woodland Veterans Park just north of the old Carnegie Library. The memorial will be in the shape of a five-pointed star, which is Smith’s design. The star’s diameter is 50 feet, representing the 50 United States.
The star, horizontal, will be made of paving stones engraved with the names of veterans. The engraving will bear information such as branch of service and years of service.
Smith said that in the center of the star will be an 18-inch-tall centerpiece holding a 35-foot flagpole. On that pole will be the Stars and Stripes and the Oklahoma flag. At the points of the star will be flagpoles bearing the flags of the five branches of the military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
Leading up to the star will be a walkway made of 21 slabs of concrete, Smith said. The 21 slabs represent a 21-gun salute, and over the walkway will be a Freedom Arch.
In the corners of the star will be black granite wedges embossed with the names of thousands of Oklahoma veterans killed in the line of duty.
Smith said bids were opened last month for construction of the memorial, and the organizations settled on one for about $740,000. An additional $350,000 must be raised to meet this price. Smith said the organizations, which include the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the DAV and the Forty & Eight, plan to have all funds raised by Memorial Day 2009. They hope to have the memorial completed by Veterans Day 2009.
Smith said that in coming years, static displays will be placed around the memorial. These could include a ship’s anchor and a howitzer.
“Once we get this thing off the ground, we’ll push for the rest of it,” Smith said.
Smith said the city of Shawnee has agreed to help with lighting and water needs at the memorial, and the parks department will help with maintenance.
Donations for the memorial can be sent to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 1703, Shawnee, OK 74801. Donations can also be made at BancFirst at Federal and Harrison streets.
The following are amounts for the purchase of paver stones:
• 4-by-8-foot gray granite paver with up to three lines in inscription, $65
• 8-by-8-foot gray granite paver with up to five lines in inscription, $100
• 12-by-12-foot gray granite paver with up to eight lines in inscription, $250 to $500.
“I definitely think we need to get a veterans park here if we can, and get everyone behind it and recognize those who gave the supreme sacrifice,” said Cecil Johnston with the Forty & Eight.
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Jason Smith may be reached at 214-3932.