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Korean War Memorial dedicated Saturday

By Richard Reeder

This document was published online on Thursday, September 04, 2008

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Korean War veterans Buck Wilkerson (left) and Paul Rodriguez led fundraising to create a Korean War Memorial at Wyoming Veterans Memorial Park in east Cody. The Korean War memorial will be unveiled Saturday. (Photo by Ken Blackbird)

Korean War veterans will unveil a monument to their 60 fallen comrades Saturday.

The Wyoming Korean War Memorial unveiling will be at 10 a.m. at Wyoming Veterans Memorial Park on the Greybull Highway.

“This is the only Korean War memorial in the state,” Paul Rodriguez said. “We've worked for more than two years to bring this to life.”

The event will feature Gov. Dave Freudenthal and Counsel General Koo of the Republic of Korea as speakers. Wyoming Adjutant Gen. Ed Wright also will attend.

Rodriguez said the effort actually began seven years ago.

“I wanted to start a Cody Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association,” he said. “We needed 12 members to start the chapter and at the first meeting we only had seven.

“The national office told us we could join a chapter in Casper or Cheyenne,” he added. “I figured if they started chapters they would build the memorial.”

But after five years, Rodriguez hadn't heard of any movement.

“I found out they hadn't gotten anything off the ground,” he said. “So I decided we had better get going on it.”

Cowboy Chapter 307 began to formulate plans for the memorial. Rodriguez, Buck Wilkerson, Gary Troxel and others have led the effort.

“We raised money and then the state gave us $300,000 and the Republic of Korea gave us $100,000,” Rodriguez said. “The city donated the land and has agreed to maintain it.

“We've had plenty of help from contractors in the area and from volunteers,” he added. “The park is really beautiful.”

The chapter continues to sell $250 memorial pavers for the park's walkways.

“When people get up there and see how beautiful the pavers are we'll sell more,” Rodriguez said. “It's a great way to honor a loved one and beautify the park.

The next project for the park will be a memorial to World War II veterans. Its future location is staked out in the grassy area between the highway and the Wyoming Vietnam Veterans Memorial. (That official state memorial was dedicated on Veterans Day 1986 by then-governor Ed Herschler in memory of the 137 Wyoming men killed or missing in action in that war.)

“We're already working with the VFW to create a WW II memorial,” Rodriguez said. “There aren't any WW II memorials in the state.

“Many parks around the country are designed to honor all wars,” he added. “I wouldn't be surprised if someday they don't create one for the Iraq War.”

Rodriguez said the park is ready for the Saturday event.

“We had some minor problems during the heavy rain with smaller drains,” he said. “But the main drain worked well and the park is in excellent shape.

“We can't thank the Cody communty and businesses enough for their help,” he added. “This is something special the community can be proud of and servicemen deserve.”

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