States memorialize their Vietnam War dead

VFW Magazine, August, 2004 by Julie Carter, Joe Moran

This is the third installment in the continuing series on state Vietnam War memorials. These states honor their residents killed in the war with public memorials.

If your state is among those without a distinct Vietnam memorial, erecting one would be the ideal project for your VFW Department.

INDIANA

Location: Indianapolis, American Legion Mall, part of the Indiana War Memorial Plaza

Description: A semicircular, limestone and qranite wall inscribed with the names of the. state's 1,525 war dead and missing Excerpts from letters sent by GIs (later killed in action) also are inscribed. The letters were collected by Thomas E. Clark and his history students at Lake Central High School. It is a "twin" of the Korean War Memorial, which faces the Vietnam Memorial.

Dedication: May 24, 1996

Commissioned and Maintained By: Then-Gov. Evan Bayh, Donald W. Moreau and other members of the Vietnam and Korean Wars Memorial Committee, various veterans groups and American United Life Insurance Company. The Indiana War Memorial Commission maintains the memorial.

IOWA

Location: Des Moines, State Capitol Grounds

Description: A black granite semicircle contains the names of the 853 GIs killed from the state. Benches and flagpoles flank the memorial.

Dedication: May 28, 1984

Commissioned and Maintained By: Iowa Vietnam Commission and Jacqueline Day, the mother of a severely wounded Vietnam veteran Maintained by the state of Iowa.

KANSAS

Location: Junction City, Heritage Park

Description: A black granite wall lists the names of the 761 GIs killed and 38 missing from Kansas. The Purple Heart, the Vietnam Service Medal and images of two soldiers are engraved.

Dedication: July 4, 1987

Maintained By: Kansas Operation Memorial, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 344 and the city of Junction City.

KENTUCKY

Location: Frankfurt, Coffee Tree Road, near the Kentucky Library and Archives building

Description: A granite plaza with the names of the 1,080 GIs killed from the state etched on the ground. A large sundial in the center casts a shadow on the names on the anniversary of their deaths. Names of the 23 missing are etched in front of the sundial where the shadow never falls. When someone missing is accounted for, his name is removed from the sundial and etched on the plaza.

Dedication: Nov. 12, 1988

Maintained By: Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation, Inc.

LOUISIANA

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Superdome, Sugarbowl Drive

Description: A bronze sculpture depicting three soldiers carrying a wounded comrade. Plaques located nearby list significant events in Vietnam from 1954-1975. A quote from President John F. Kennedy is inscribed on the base. Names of the state's 881 GIs killed are encapsulated inside the base.

Dedication: Nov. 11, 1984

Commissioned and Maintained By: The Louisiana Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program (LVVLP) authorized and raised funds for the memorial. The LVVLP dissolved upon the memorial's completion. Maintained by American Legion Post 397.

MAINE

Location: Augusta, Capital Park

Description: Three large triangles--two made of concrete, the other of steel. The middle triangle has a cutout silhouette of two soldiers assisting a wounded comrade. Light is reflected from the back triangle through the silhouette onto the first triangle.

Dedication: Oct. 19, 1985

Maintained By: Maine Bureau of General Services.

Location: Bangor, Cole Land Transportation Museum

Description (Inset): Granite wall listing the names of the 339 residents killed or missing. A three person bronze statue and surplus military equipment also are on-site.

Dedication: May 31, 2004

Commissioned and Maintained By: Galen Cole, Cole Land Transportation Museum.

E-mailjcarter@vfw.org

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