17th Street & McKinley St, Great Bend, Kansas.
A Vietnam Memorial dedication ceremony will be held on Monday, November 11, 2024, at Veterans Memorial Park, Great Bend, Kansas. Event schedule:11:00 – 11:30 AM: Avenue of Flags, with Brandon Kulgen 11:30 AM – Noon: Vietnam Memorial Dedication, with Larry Parsons Special guest: U.S. Senator Doctor Roger Marshall About the Memorial:The new Vietnam Memorial, created by Bruce Bitter of B&B Metal Arts, features a 50-foot stainless steel wall with military insignias, a tribute to POWs, and a scaled Huey helicopter replica. The design also honors medics and other service members. The monument joins existing memorials for World War I and World War II. Background & Funding:This project was initiated by a committee of local Vietnam veterans in December 2023 and costs approximately $115,000. Most funds have been raised, with donations still sought for a bench, fence, and landscaping support. Donations can be sent to the Great Bend Foundation at PO Box 533, Great Bend, KS, 67530. Bruce Bitter expressed that the memorial is both a tribute and a way to preserve veterans’ stories for future generations. |
