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lincoln.ne.gov | |
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City of Lincoln Parks & Recreation - Parks Veterans Memorial Garden |
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Memorials
Learn more about...
Airborne VETERANS MEMORIAL GARDENIn 1988, then Mayor, Bill Harris, brought to the Vietnam Veterans of Lincoln his desire to bring the half scale replica of the "Wall" to Lincoln, Nebraska. After much planning, it was decided that the "right area" for this showing would be in Antelope Park in the area just East of Auld Pavilion. It was also decided that the "right time" would be the first week in June just after Memorial Day. This also helped bring about the tradition of having the Bricks Dedication Program each year the first Saturday in June.
That first week of June 1989 turned into a very unforgettable experience for the
over 80,000 people who visited the "Wall". The area in which the "Wall" was located, originally
a ball field, was never the same afterward as this became "sacred ground" for many people. As a result, the
idea for the Memorial to the Vietnam Veterans was conceived and built in the same area as
where the "Wall stood. This Memorial was then dedicated in June 1990. After this Dedication,
it was then felt that it would only be appropriate that this area should be
dedicated to all veterans. This led to an "official naming" of the area to Veterans'
Memorial Gardens in June 1991.
In 1991, Desert Storm/Desert Shield came about bringing on a new wave of patriotism with
the result of the Communities, States, and the Nation banding together and not only
recognizing and honoring soldiers and veterans of that time but ALL veterans of all times.
The Lincoln community then banded together and the development of the Veterans' Memorial
Garden became a reality.
As in any project of this magnitude, fund raising is always a major concern. Our
first grant came from the Winnette Trust fund set up for the development of Memorials
in the community. The only stipulation was it was a matching grant where we had to
come up with an equal amount of funding. This resulted in our fund raiser which which
was the sale of "Bricks of Remembrance" for all veterans, living, or deceased. The availability
and sale of these "Bricks of Remembrance" will continue indefinitely. Since that time, we have raised
over $250,000.00 through grants and the sale of the bricks, with none of this money
coming out of taxpayer dollars. However, we are hoping to raise another $300,000.00 to further
develop this area and to set up a perpetual fund for the maintenance of the Garden area
so as to make this area self supporting. (~1998)
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Parks Division