Ohio Korean War Veterans Memorial and All Veterans Walkway
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Submitted by James Snyder, Kittering, Ohio, via brochure
The Korean Veterans Memorial is located in Riverbend Park, on the north bank of the Great Miami River in
Dayton, just east of the Riverside Drive bridge. Five lighted flagpoles fly the flags of the United States of
America, the Republic of Korea, the United Nations, the State of Ohio and the Prisoners of War/Missing in
Action. A thirteen-foot-tall granite statue represents all of the armed forces of the United States. The
memorial also honors the significant contributions of women in the armed forces during the Korean War, and
describes the ten major campaigns of the war. In front of the statue are granite memorials with the names of
those men from Ohio who lost their lives during the Korean War.
A well-lighted 475-foot All Veterans walkway leads to the main memorial. On the right side of the walkway are
the names of the 8,182 missing in action. These names are etched in granite and are listed by state. It is
believed that this is the only memorial in the continental United States with a complete listing of these
heroes. The left side of the walkway displays individual bricks purchased by persons or organizations to honor
those who served from the Civil War through Desert Storm.
Building a Memorial...
On December 21, 1988, a group of five Korean veterans gathered to begin planning a memorial to the servicemen
and women involved in the "forgotten war." In 1990, the City of Dayton provided land and a $10,000 grant which
was matched by Montgomery County, to help get the memorial started. The Ohio House and Senate approved House
Bill 7 designating Dayton as the site for the Ohio Korean War Veterans Memorial and All Veterans Walkway. With
land, start-up capital and a state resolution in hand, the veterans group now began soliciting funds from
private foundations, veterans organizations, corporations and individuals. Volunteer labor from the Dayton
Building and Construction Trades Council and donated materials allowed construction to begin. The completion of
the memorial is a tribute to total community support; cooperation and contributions of the labor unions;
veterans and veterans' organizations; city, county and state politicians; corporations; foundations; and private
citizens who joined together to make this permanent tribute a reality. On September 9, 1995, the Ohio Korean War
Veterans Memorial and All Veterans Walkway was dedicated to honor those forgotten for so long, and those who
gave so much. |
Mahoning Valley
KWVA Chapter #137, Mahoning Valley, Ohio, has dedicated a new memorial to Korean War veterans. According to
Leo Taillon, one of the members of this proud and active chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association, "It's a
beautiful tribute to those who have given their lives and to those from the counties of Mahoning, Trumbull and
Columbania." The memorial cost about $100,000.00 and the brass soldier about $50,000.00.
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