Korean Veterans Memorial Park will be dedicated Memorial Day

Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 198 is several steps closer to seeing completion of a memorial park at the end of Fifth Street at Marsh Road.

As part of Riverview Park, the Korean Veterans Memorial Park will feature bricks with the names of military veterans from all branches who served from 1945 to present day in Korea, including territorial waters of Korea. More than 120 bricks have been purchased.

Members of the chapter are excited to see the project progress, but admit they underestimated the cost of the project.

"Little things like flag poles and a light fixture to keep the United States flag illuminated weren't considered," said Richard Hyde, chapter president. "The community can help by buying a brick or donating money to the project."

Fred Williams, chapter vice president, said it will take about $8,000 to pay for the remainder of the project. Cement work was donated by Capitol City Concrete, and the masonry work was done by Richard Tieben, who will also lay the memorial bricks.

"We had to buy the flag poles, there are three, and one light fixture," Hyde added. "The Flag Store in Reno donated the four flags to be displayed."

One pole will fly the Nevada State flag and the POW/MIA flag. The second will fly the Korean flag and the third will be the United States flag. The perimeter will have 10 Rose of Sharon plants, Korea's national flower. As bricks are added, smaller rock can be removed.

The Nevada Cities Complex is a display of four large rocks representing Carson City, Reno, Elko and Las Vegas. It is in regard to the last battle fought from March 26-30, 1953 in Korea. Another plaque will display the 34 names of Nevadans who died during the war.

The Korean community in Reno has donated more than $3,000 to the project.

"We want this to be everyone's park - for Americans and Koreans," said Hyde.

"Some people of Korean nationality have bought bricks, too. Theirs will lay next to ours."

The Carson City Parks and Recreation Department has an adopt-a-park program. Chapter 198 has officially adopted the site.

"We'll be responsible for helping maintain it," said Val Jensen, chapter member.

"We're going to have our annual picnic here," said Williams.

The chapter encourages anyone in the community, who may have a family member who served in the U.S. military in and around Korean since 1945 to present, to buy a brick for $50 in honor of them.

Applications can be obtained from Williams or Hyde. The chapter meets at 11 a.m. the first Thursday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hall, corner of Curry and Second streets.

A plaque with the history of the Korean War memorial will be placed in the center of the memorial park. It is the second memorial in the state of Nevada honoring Korean War veterans.

"We're tired of being known as those who fought 'The Forgotten War,'" Hyde said. "This park is for people to remember us."

n Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.