After the success of "The Wall That Heals" last May in Great Bend, a local Vietnam veterans group created a plan to place a permanent memorial at Veterans Memorial Park.
The cost of the project is being covered through grants, current donations and about a third of the money left to be solicited through fundraising.
The 50' memorial is symbolic of "The Wall That Heals" with a 3D stainless-steel Huey UH-1 helicopter hovering over the wall. The feature will have the U.S. Military branch logos, the Vietnam Service Medal and the iconic elephant grass.
B&B Metal Arts, creator of other stainless-steel memorials in Great Bend, will create the $92,348 project.
The City of Great Bend would be responsible for powering the lights to the memorial and taking care of the irrigation system. The memorial group plans to pour concrete in the summer of 2024 and have a dedication of the finished product on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2024.
The Great Bend City Council will consider approving the placement of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Veterans Park at their next meeting on Monday, Dec. 18. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.