The 20th Century Veteran's Memorial is a permanent memorial dedicated
to and honoring the military men and women of the United States who
served their country during the 20th Century. The five major armed
forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard) are
memorialized by larger than life-sized bronze statues sculpted by
internationally known artist, Ted Long of North Platte.
The five major conflicts of the 20th Century (World Wars I and II,
Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf) are depicted in a 15 x 40-foot
brick bas-relief mural. In addition, a brick bas-relief wing panel
on one side of the larger mural honors 20th Century women who served
their country in the military. The five major ethnic groups who served
in the military during the 20th Century are also honored in another
wing panel.
The memorial features a "Walk of Honor" lined by thousands
of commemorative bricks above ground showing the names of veterans
who served at any time during the 20th Century. A "Place of Meditation"
containing a pentagon shaped pedestal pays special tribute to veterans
from Nebraska who lost their lives during 20th Century conflicts.
Their names are displayed on bronze plaques along with their home
counties and the conflict in which they gave their lives.
Veterans' Memorial Experience
The Veterans' Memorial visit experience begins the moment one steps
through the bronze eagle crested entry way and stands before the larger
than life bronze group statue, "Defenders of Liberty".
Continuing down the "Walk of Honor" reminds the visitor
of the thousands of veterans whose names are inscribed in the bricks
that make up the walls. There is space for 8008 bricks along the Walk
of Honor. To date, 3767 bricks have been donated to honor veterans
from 42 states and 157 towns in Nebraska.
The six bronze statues on either side of the walkway depict the honorable
military service of men and women during the Twentieth Century. The
bronze statues are by artist, Ted Long, Korean War veteran.
The "Walk of Honor" passes by the unfurled United States
flag into the hallowed "Place of Meditation". This beautiful
area displays the names of Veterans from Nebraska who sacrificed their
lives during Twentieth Century conflicts.
The back wall of the Memorial is a stunning fifteen feet by forty
feet brick bas-relief mural reflecting the struggle to preserve peace
and freedom during the five major conflicts of the Twentieth Century.
A special area on the east side of the Veterans' Memorial is dedicated
to those great people from the greater Mid-Nebraska area who provided
the Canteen at the North Platte Depot during World War II.
20th
Century Veteran's Memorial
This is MY Country
By Harry Spohn
What is a veteran, Grandpa?”
The speaker was one of my 10 grandchildren and the occasion for the question
was an approaching Veteran’s Day.
“Well,” I replied, “one definition of a veteran would
be a man or woman who has served their country by wearing the uniform
of a branch of the military.”
“Another definition would be YOU if you flunk kindergarten and have
to take kindergarten again, you’d be a veteran of kindergarten!”
I added.
The little one looked puzzled for a minute, then started laughing as she
ran for the backyard swing. She stopped and turned around and said, “Nobody
flunks kindergarten, Grandpa – you are funny.”
As I sat on the deck of our modest home watching the children at play,
my thoughts turned to my military service and the military service of
members of my family.
I was a veteran of World War II only because President Truman declared
WWII was over on Dec. 31, 1946. I had been in the U.S. Navy for 11 months
and was stationed at a Naval Air Station, just over the Koolau Mountains
from Honolulu, Hawaii, and Pearl Harbor.
I was 12 years old on Dec. 7, 1941, and had to ask my dad where Pearl
Harbor was when the attack there took place. Four and a half years later,
the ship I was on pulled into Pearl Harbor.
Back in the mid-1920s, my dad was in the U.S. Army and was stationed at
Schofield Barracks. Before that, in World War I, I had four great uncles
who served in France – two Spohns and two Shafers, who were brothers
of my dad’s mom. The two Spohns were brothers of my grandfather.
Two were wounded and gassed in the trenches of France, one was a musician
in General Pershing’s band and the other was a medic who served
a year in Germany after the Armistice.
In our country’s Civil War, my great-grandmother who married a Spohn
had two brothers who served the North with an Iowa Regiment and fought
in the battle at Shiloh Church. One brother was wounded and discharged
from further service, while his brother was captured and lived through
the Andersonville prison in Georgia. Both men later lived out their lives
in Des Moines, Iowa.
My research for my family’s
genealogy back in the 1980s took me to the North Platte Library. There I
found a book listing the men of western Pennsylvania who served in the Western
Pennsylvania Militia and Regulators from Westmoreland County in the year
1781. They served a
30-day period in the
spring after planting and another 30-day period on active duty in the early
fall before harvest time.
Harry Spohn is lives in North
Platte, where he is a free-lance writer.
My ancestor’s name was
Martin Spohn, but he was listed as “Spoon.” What made me quite
sure “Spoon” should be “Spohn” was the listing
of another name that served with Martin – Daniel Leatherman. Martin
Spohn married a girl named Katerina Leatherman in Frederick, Maryland,
in 1777, and they immediately left that area for western Pennsylvania.
I felt glad to join my ancestors in service to this country.
In June 1950, the Korean War broke out, and by July, I was back in Navy
Blues again. I had joined the Navy Reserve in 1949, when ending my hitch
in the regular Navy. When the conflict in Korea broke out, I answered
a call from the Ninth Naval District as to my availability for active
duty. By October 1950, I was in Japan, near Hiroshima, serving with Fleet
Air Wing Six. In August 1951, I was back home and a civilian again.
I’ve always felt grateful I was found worthy to serve my country.
I have known men who, for various reasons, couldn’t serve their
country. In many of those fellows you could really sense that they wished
they could, but it wasn’t to be. Why should I feel like this?
When our son was accepted for
the Nuclear Submarine program in 1975, I felt I finally realized the “why”
and it was simple to me: This in MY country. It has taken care of me and
now it was my turn to take care of it.
I told our son the history of service by our ancestors and how our country
has evolved through the years to become a world power and how we have
helped the world after WWII was over. Love of country has a lot to do
with it and it IS a good feeling to be found worthy of service to others.
In closing, I must salute those people who have made the 20th Century
War Memorial a reality here! My brick is there with the others and I’m
glad I am a member of that elite bunch!
The memorial still needs our help and if you can, please make a donation
to its completion. It will long be in service to many others who will
stop and see this memorial down through the years. I’ll be long
forgotten, but my name will be there with others I was proud to serve
with.
NPTSummer 2005 Issue
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