THE NORTH KANSAS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. OAK PARK HIGH SCHOOL OFFICIALLY OPENED UP A VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL. KMBC NINE S ALAN SHOPE EXPLAINS ONE CATCH, AND WITH THAT, THE OAK PARK HIGH SCHOOL HEALING WALL OPENED. TO ME, IT MEANS CLOSURE FOR THE FAMILIES. THAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR VIETNAM VETERAN IN OAK PARK HIGH SCHOOL, CLASS OF 67, KERRY MARSHALL. IT’S BEEN HIS DREAM THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING A WALL HONORING ALL THOSE THAT FOUGHT IN THE VIETNAM WAR, THAT WENT TO OAK PARK, AND A WAY TO HONOR THOSE 12 FORMER NORTHMEN STUDENTS THAT NEVER MADE IT BACK. THEY NEEDED TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR WHAT THEY GAVE UP THE SCHOOL HOSTING A VERY SPECIAL CEREMONY ON SATURDAY TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE WALL, THE GROUP RAISING NEARLY $6,000 FOR IT. I KNEW ALL 12 OAK PARK GRADUATES THAT MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN VIETNAM. SOME OF THEM I KNEW VERY WELL, SOME OF THEM JUST BY HAVING CLASSES TOGETHER AND PASSING IT ALL. THE GROUP HOPES TODAY’S STUDENTS PASSING IN THOSE HALLS WILL STOP, READ AND REMEMBER. I WANT THEM TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THE WAR OF VIETNAM. WE WERE FORGOTTEN. THERE ARE CLOSE TO 300 NAMES ON THE WALL, AND THAT’S A NUMBER THEY EXPECT TO GROW AS THEY IDENTIFY MORE VETERANS FROM THE VIETNAM WAR THAT WENT TO OAK PARK. FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THIS WALL, THEY WENT THROUGH SACRIFICE, TOO. AND I’D JUST LIKE FOR THE STUDENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS ABOUT, KNOW WHAT THEIR GRANDFATHERS DID IN KANSAS CITY
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Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri, officially unveiled a memorial honoring alumni who served in the Vietnam War, including 12 who never returned home.The wall is the result of a three-year effort by Vietnam veteran Cary Marshall, a member of Oak Park’s Class of 1967, who envisioned a permanent tribute to fellow classmates who served.“They need to be recognized for what they gave up,” Marshall said.Nearly $6,000 was raised to bring the memorial to life, which now includes close to 300 names.Organizers expect that number to grow as more names of Oak Park alumni who served in Vietnam are discovered.Bob Staton, another Oak Park graduate, remembered all 12 of the former students who died in the war.“I knew all 12 of the Oak Park graduates that made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam,” Staton said. “Some of them I knew very well. Some of them are just by having class together and passing in the halls.”A dedication ceremony featured remarks, music, and a moment of reflection.The goal is for current students to not just walk past the wall, but to stop, read, and learn.
Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri, officially unveiled a memorial honoring alumni who served in the Vietnam War, including 12 who never returned home.
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The wall is the result of a three-year effort by Vietnam veteran Cary Marshall, a member of Oak Park’s Class of 1967, who envisioned a permanent tribute to fellow classmates who served.
“They need to be recognized for what they gave up,” Marshall said.
Nearly $6,000 was raised to bring the memorial to life, which now includes close to 300 names.
Organizers expect that number to grow as more names of Oak Park alumni who served in Vietnam are discovered.
Bob Staton, another Oak Park graduate, remembered all 12 of the former students who died in the war.
“I knew all 12 of the Oak Park graduates that made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam,” Staton said. “Some of them I knew very well. Some of them are just by having class together and passing in the halls.”
A dedication ceremony featured remarks, music, and a moment of reflection.
The goal is for current students to not just walk past the wall, but to stop, read, and learn.
