Veterans Memorial Park - Wichita, KS

What some people might call "The hidden gem," is called Veterans Memorial Park. This unique park is located Downtown Wichita Kansas along the Arkansas River on about 4.5 acres. From the Bicentennial Flag Pavilion to the 17 memorials representing six wars and every branch of the military, visitors can honor veterans and military to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. The park is open to the public and offers free admission. You can complete the “Veteran’s Memorial Walk” along the east side of the Arkansas River right to the park and witness for yourself this appealing and unique collection of statues, sculptures and memorials. The tour takes about 1-2 hours to complete.

Veterans Memorial Park was formed in 1980. Since Veteran’s Day in 1977, Wichita has paid homage to the men and women who have fought and died in various wars throughout history. The purpose of this park is to honor veterans and military with statues, sculptures and memorials dedicated to The Civil War, World War 1, World War 2, The Korean War, Vietnam War, and Global War on Terriosm. Sitting on 4.5 acres this park is one of the largest in the country and it's just one of three in the country that houses a Berlin Airlift Memorial. Providing winding paths that take you to each of the memorial monuments from the front of the park down to the river. It is so unique because it also honors the sacrifices of the veteren's loved ones. What was/is given up by families in support of the troops too often goes unrecognized. Most memorials were paid for by relatives that were involved in the war so it definitely adds a lot of personal touch.

All branches of the U.S. military are represented as are prisoners of war missing in action, gold star families and service members who have received a Purple Heart. The Veterans of each war have been memorialized, plus there is a Bicentennial Flag Pavilion, Gold Star Wives of America, POW*MIA, Purple Heart, American Gold Star Mothers, Pearl Harbor, Merchant Marines, and the crew members who lost their lives on U.S. Submarines after WWII, among others!

The Korean War Memorial was very special! It has an Asian styled entrance. When you look through it, you can see the Map of Korea. Beyond that, there is a soldier on top of a pedestal with tributes to each of the Branches of Military. I also was fascinated with the 15 flags flying high! Each flag has shown the changes in the United States through the years. Did you know that there is a specific flag for the Commander-In-Chief?

I had not seen memorials for a lot of the Wars memorialized here. Sad to say there have been a lot of conflicts, but it's really cool that this spot in Kansas paid tribute to the Veterans and their families.