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Construction began May 8, 2006 on the
new Korean War Veterans
Memorial in Overland Park
honoring the Kansas servicemen killed in action (KIA)
during that war. The 70 feet long 8 feet high granite
structure, located at 119th and
Lowell,
is scheduled for completion by late August, 2006.
Nestled beneath several large trees, the
wall
 of honor will recognize all five branches of the
service and features the names of 412 KIA’s, two Metal
of Honor recipients and the Purple Heart recipients. To
give new generations a better historical understanding
of the event, there will be a map of Korea and a
timeline of the Korean War. Also recognized will be the
major contributors who are making this monument a
reality. The structure will include thirty 2.5 ft. x 8
ft. panels with benches and a brick patio
 that will
allow individuals and companies to pay tribute to those
that have served.
Involved in building
the monument is SI Veteran Memorials, a company that has
created hundreds of monuments since 1968, including over
20 Korean War Memorials. “Like every project we do, the
new Overland Park Memorial will be special,” stated Russ
Rogers, SI Memorials VP, “because SI believes those who
served our country and
 those dedicated to honoring them
by making the project a reality, deserve nothing less.”
The Memorial was the vision of the Korean
War Veterans Association Chapter 1-181, whose executive
committee includes: Jack Krumme, Chairman; Tom Stevens,
1st Vice Chairman; Jack Gay, Post Commander;
Wayne Shireman, Secretary / Treasurer; Louis “Dutch”
Meyers; Dick Tussell; Don Jamieson; Rudy Green; Gene
Tinberg; and
 Clyde Koch.
The $675k memorial is being funded mainly
through private and corporate donations and fund raising
efforts (pancake breakfasts, raffles, golf outings, paver projects, etc.) of the Overland Park VFW Post.
Those interested in supporting the monument fundraising
can participate in a golf tournament at Iron Horse on
June 14 or purchase pavers and/or make a
donation
 directly to the committee. For more
information, call 913-888-2497 or go to www.Koreanwarmemorial-opks.com.
SI Veteran Memorials is working with
Merit General Contractors and B&A Associates architects
to build this monument.
SI Veteran Memorials projects have ranged
from as small as $5k to over $2 million. They include
building the Pittsburg, Kansas
 Veterans Plaza and
Midland, Texas All Veterans Memorial, as well as
coordinating the brick project for the Liberty Memorial,
Kansas City, Missouri. Other current
veteran memorial
projects include Baltimore, Maryland; Little Rock,
Arkansas; and Branson, Missouri.
SI Veteran Memorials is the preferred
provider to the VFW and is working with the American
Legion on several projects. They are a division of
Suhor Industries, Inc., the nation’s largest burial
vault
manufacturer and one of the leading funeral
service providers in the country. SI provided the
burial vaults for Presidents Ronald Reagan and Dwight D.
Eisenhower and participated in the internment of both
national leaders. They also provide a free burial vault
for public servants killed in the line of duty. SI
Construction Services, another sister company, provides
turnkey lawn crypt and columbarium projects to the
Veterans Administration for national cemeteries all over
the United States. |
