'Lest We Forget': Veterans Memorial Park a Living Tribute to Local Service Members

A nearly-life sized statue of a World War I fighter holds a rifle and bayonet and a grenade as he steps over barbed wire on top of a glacial boulder. An American flag and tree with autumn colors is in the background. — “Spirit of the American Doughboy” at Veterans Memorial Park in Marion, Ohio.

When the city of Marion donated 7.5 acres to create a Veterans Memorial Park in 1982, Marion became the first city in the United States to honor veterans and service members from all wars.

“This is not a community that turned its back on veterans. Marion is a veterans’ town and a patriotic town,” said Sue Oakes, Marion resident and recently retired faculty member from The Ohio State University at Marion. “Every monument has a flagpole and includes the phrase, ‘Lest we forget.’”

Volunteers Maintain Monuments

The park sits directly across from the Harding Memorial and the Marion Cemetery at the corner of Delaware Avenue and McKinley Park Blvd. For decades, it has been tended by the City of Marion and a team of volunteers who carefully plant flowers and erect hundreds of miniature flags for holidays, including the annual Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m.

“These monuments may not be here for your kids and grandkids without volunteers who step up,” Oakes said.

Learning Local History

Oakes has taken college students to tour the monuments and recently held a series of Adult Lifelong Learning class sessions for the Marion Public Library.

“I’ve talked to students who say, ‘I’ve lived in Marion my whole life and I’ve never stopped in,’” Oakes said. “It’s important to keep passing on our history. Someone who comes to Marion should be awed by the monument to our president and the ones to our veterans.”

Among first Vietnam War Memorials

A large gray stone with a map of Vietnam with the dividing line from north and south; two Vietnam War campaign ribbons at the top; A list of the branches; and A statement of support for all those who served in southeast Asia; and the world "Marion" at the bottom. A flag stands in front and behind the monument. — Vietnam War Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park.

The park, dedicated in 1984, was among the first to honor Vietnam War veterans, Oakes said. Many of the attendees shared memories of the Vietnam conflict.

Oakes said, “It has five stars in the shape of a Vietnam campaign ribbon. It mentions everyone, men and women, who fought in Southeast Asia.”

Total of 15 Main Memorials

Names are etched into stone around a centered flagpole at Veterans Memorial Park. — An honor roll features local service members who fought in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. (Photo by Sue Oakes)

Fifteen main memorials dot the park, including an in-ground one resembling wings dedicated to POW/MIA. An honor roll displays names of local service members in multiple wars. Another monument honors women who served in and with the armed forces.

A close up of a black stone with the POW MIA insignia, which shows a bowed head, a guard tower and fences. It is at Veterans Memorial Park.

World War I Memorial – the Doughboy

A nearly life-sized statue on a boulder. — A replica of the original “Spirit of the American Doughboy” at Veterans Memorial Park.

Nearby, the World War I memorial features a replica of a sculpture by E.M. Viquesney, “The Spirit of the American Doughboy.” The original sculpture, dedicated in 1936, is now preserved at Heritage Hall.

The nearly life-sized soldier holds a grenade and a rifle with a bayonet as he steps over barbed wire. The memorial honors “Our Boys” who answered the call from Marion County. It sits atop a glacial boulder found in Marion County.

World War II Monument

A tall column with a globe on top and a rifle focused downward with a helmet on it at Veterans Memorial Park.

The tallest monument is the World War II monument, which was dedicated in 1983. The memorial features the image of a gun with a helmet atop, depicting a battlefield memorial.

“This reminds us that each one of those lost was a human being who is missed,” Oakes said.

A U.S. Navy stone sits below the column.

A stone with the Navy insignia sits next to a small U.S. flag.

Spanish American War

A monument to the Spanish-American War includes a bronze sculpture made from metal recovered from the sunken battleship, the USS Maine.

A bronze relief with a woman holding a shield and an image of a boat sinking. — This is made from the propeller of the USS Maine which led to the Spanish-American War. (Photo by Sue Oakes)

Persian Gulf War Memorial

The Persian Gulf War memorial includes a bronze plaque depicting service men and women in an active battle scene featuring aircraft carriers, bombers, tanks and anti-aircraft batteries.

“It’s not just representing the fighters, but also the fight,” Oakes said.

Images of a battle scene with a bomber, fighter jet, anti-aircraft, and people. — The Persian Gulf War monument features an active battle scene. (Photographer: Sue Oakes.)

It includes a quote by Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf: “I have seen in your eyes a fire of determination to get this job done quickly so that we all may return to the shores of our great nation. My confidence in you is total. Our cause is just! Now you must be the thunder and lightning of Desert Storm.”

Park Entrance – Words of Inspiration

More notable speeches from history are displayed at the park’s entrance.

A small kiosky with red awnings displaying: Veterans Memorial Park. Inside the U.S. Constitution and famous speeches are displayed. — Photo by Sue Oakes

New Perspective on the Park

Polly Kilgore of Marion said she appreciated knowing more about the park, the monuments and local history.

“I stop by here once a week. Now I know there’s more to be seen,” Kilgore said. “It’s amazing. I’m going to look at monuments in a completely different way.”