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Cuba City, Wis., has one. Ryan, Iowa, does too. So does Park Rapids, Minn. What Louis Kartman, a U. S. Marine who survived the Korean War and the famous “Frozen Chosin” Reservoir battle, wants his city to have one. It will!
For more than 40 summers, Kartman has fished in the Park Rapids area, in northern Minnesota. Last year, he was talking to a fellow former Marine who spoke admiringly of the All Veterans Memorial that sits along U.S. 71 on the city's south side.
"He said I had to see it," Kartman said. "They're proud of it."
Park Rapids' memorial is highlighted with 11 granite markers denoting all of America's conflicts, beginning with the Revolutionary War through the first Gulf War. The markers are inscribed with the war's dates, those who served, those killed in action and prisoners of war. Another is planned for the ongoing Iraq War. High-flying flags represent each military service branch.
"You wouldn't believe the amount of men who come in and tell us how tearful it is," said Lezli Zimmerman, administrative assistant for the Park Rapids Chamber of Commerce.
Kartman didn't tear up, but he was impressed. He thinks if Park Rapids, with a population of 3,900 (it quadruples in the summer), can build a monumental memorial, so can Dubuque. He began garnering support for the project in late 2006, and it gained momentum - garnering enthusiasm from local veterans organizations.
Very importantly, Dubuque city administrators agreed. Designing is done, a site has been chosen and it's enjoying growing support. With Dubuque City Council approval, the new array sits on city land next to the relocated Chaplain Schmitt Memorial, at the McAleece Sports Complex on Chaplain Schmitt Island.
"The city of Dubuque does not have a memorial that is this complete," said Kartman of the display of granite pillars and walls with flags flying overhead.
Unlike the Battle Bows Memorial in Marshall Park, this display recognizes American conflicts from the War of Independence to Iraq – 12 wars in all.
"Ours is more of a history, to see all the wars," Kartman said.
The project is estimated to cost more than $500,000. Depending on the level of fundraising success, organizers, who have non-profit 501 C-3 status, hope to have it completed by fall 2009.
The new memorial - which will offer visitors a feeling of tranquility, honor and respect for our nation's veterans - includes a curved wall to the back dedicated to the branches of service, with their flags flying, bracketing an American flag with a POW/MIA banner below it. In the center, there will be a 6-ton granite globe, 5-feet in diameter. The array will sit on a field of brick, each sold to raise money for the project.
"I personally thought we should have something like this, that is really spectacular," said Keith Shearer, another Korean War veteran, and former commander of American Legion Post 6. "Once I saw Louie's idea, I thought, 'there it is.'"