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New Memorial In Oklahoma City Will Honor Fallen Troops
March 6, 2008
Oklahoma City, a city which has had it’s share of tragedies, with the bombing of the Murrow Federal Building, will soon be the site of another memorial. One to honor the men and women who have given their lives in the Global War on Terror, while serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Military memorials … remind us of the great sacrifices that have been made for this country and the world,” said Jason Savage, president of Freedom Memorials, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to planning and raising money for the memorial. “It’s important to honor those sacrifices today.”
Because of legislation that has been in effect since1986, The Commemorative Works Act, it’s extremely difficult to erect such a memorial in the national capitol region, and Savage’s group found that out quickly. The act in part states, “An event or individual cannot be memorialized prior to the 25th anniversary of the event or death of the individual.” In regards to memorials for wars, the waiting period would begin when fighting has concluded.
“Given those circumstance, we began a site search and were presented with the wonderful opportunity to have this memorial located djacent to one of the nation’s finest military museums,” Savage said. “The parents, relatives and friends of those lost today should be able to visit a memorial.”
Plans are to construct the memorial in Thunderbird Park, in Oklahoma City, which is adjacent to the 45th Infantry Division Museum. This memorial is planned to be the first of it’s kind. It will have photos of each servicemember who has fallen, as well as a personal tribute to each of them, etched into it’s black stainless steel walls. According to Savage, the planned memorial will bring even more reality to the losses of this country, as well as be an everlasting history of the courageous individuals who gave their all. Savage himself, has never served in the military, but feels a strong tie to the military community. His father served in the Office of Strategic Services during World War II, which is the predecessor to what today is the CIA. His mother served as a stenographer during the Nuremberg war crimes trial. Savage grew up near Charleston, S.C. at a time when the Navy base there was in full operation.
“Now I live close to Fort Bragg, N.C. an run road races on the base with the Soldiers,” he said. “I have great respect for what they are doing for our country and I wanted to do something special to honor them and the families of the fallen.”
This sounds like it’s going to be a great and fitting memorial to the brave men and women who’ve laid down their lives in the line of duty, serving our country. I look forward to visiting Oklahoma City when the memorial is completed and visiting the memorial. To view more artist rendition photos of what the planned memorial will look like, and read about how you can contribute, please visit the Freedom Memorials website.
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