By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
WAKEENEY—WaKeeney's Iwo Jima Memorial will relocate to Eisenhower Park, with a re-dedication ceremony scheduled for Veterans Day on Monday.
The memorial is off I-70 at Exit 127, next to the retired Navy F-14 Tomcat Fighter Jet. The re-dedication ceremony will be at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 11.
Lynelle Shubert, WaKeeney Tourism and Main Street Director, said the Iwo Jima Memorial shows the community's appreciation for those who served.
"This memorial serves not only as a poignant reminder of past sacrifices but also as a place of reflection and appreciation of military service, embodying the spirit of patriotism that resonates deeply within this community," she said.
Originally established at the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery, the memorial has been relocated three times. It was crafted by local veterans with support from community funding.
The memorial features a silhouette of the iconic image of soldiers raising the American flag, inspired by the original Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington, D.C.
It includes a blue slate back wall as a backdrop and a brass plaque highlighting the memorial's historical significance.
Bob Funk, Kenney Deutscher and Jim Funk designed and cut the Iwo Jima silhouette memorial. It was removed from the cemetery in 2002.
The American Legion Moore Post 197 rededicated the memorial in 2007, but it moved again due to changes in land ownership, leading to its disassembly and storage.
"We received some grant money and hired Fox Construction. They resurrected our memorial," Shubert said.
Shubert said the timing was ideal for this Veterans Day. However, there are plans to complete the memorial with landscaping updates in spring.
The re-dedication event begins with a breakfast for veterans, served by the Trego Community High School football team. This is followed by an assembly where veterans share their stories.
The high school band and choir will perform in honor of the veterans.
After the assembly, the community will head to the memorial for a ceremony full of music and speeches about the site's significance.
Shubert said during the memorial's absence, the community expressed concern about its status and wondered when it would return to public view.
"We appreciate our veterans and we appreciate our American freedoms. The re-dedication of this memorial is important to a lot of people here," she said.
A $25,000 grant from the Dane G. Hanson Foundation supported the project to reinstall the Iwo Jima Memorial, along with contributions from the Prairie Rose Inn, WaKeeney Tourism, Trego County and the VFW Auxiliary post 3449.
Community members contributed smaller donations through a grocery store round-up campaign and a city-wide garage sale.
"The community is definitely behind this project," Shubert said.
You can find more information on the F-14 Fighter Jet, the Kansas Veteran's Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial here.
