Veterans Memorial Park Fort Dodge Noon Sertoma/ Webster County Conservation
They didn’t quit, they didn’t walk away, they stood proud and strong to defend our freedom
Late summer 2007, the reality of the war in Iraq was brought home to Fort
Dodge when a local Marine was killed in action. The community gathered as one to
honor this man and his family as he was escorted home. Out of this tragedy, came the
idea to honor our local service men and women with a living memorial park dedicated to
their sacrifices. The Board of the Fort Dodge Noon Sertoma approved the concept of
the park in the fall of 2007 and Sertoma member, Terry Allers offered the services of his
architect firm to work on the preliminary design. Working with Matt Cosgrove, director
of Webster County Conservation, an undeveloped overgrown area located on the
northwest corner of Badger Lake in Kennedy Park was chosen as the location for the
planned park. The park design included a flowering tree lined five hundred foot lighted
sidewalk that leads to an amphitheater with seating for over that overlooks the lake. At
the base of the amphitheater a series of US and service flags will be placed. In January
2008 members of the Noon Sertoma made a presentation to the Webster County
Conservation Board to seek approval of the tentative plans to develop the site into
Veterans Memorial Park. After receiving the blessing of the Board and before
announcing the plans to the general public, project chairman Terry Moehnke met with
local veterans groups to make them aware of the project. Utilizing the local newspaper,
radio announcements and a direct mail brochure – fundraising efforts started in mid-
February 2008 and construction of the park was started on the end of March 2008. The
first phase consisted of tree and brush removal from an existing parking lot to the lake
enabling the sidewalk path to be staked out. Working with young adults from Youth
Shelter Care, over 100 Chanticleer Pear Trees were planted, mulched and watered in
less than an hour. The eight foot wide stained and stamped sidewalk was poured
shortly thereafter and work started on the hillside, terracing it so an amphitheater
capable of holding over 400 people could be built. Flag poles were set near the start of
the sidewalk and in front of the amphitheater overlooking Badger Lake.
In the spring of 2009, the work on the amphitheater was completed and an
additional twenty eight trees were planted to honor more area service personnel. The
Fallen Soldier Memorial was placed in August 2009 and a bronze Bald Eagle statue was
placed shortly after which completed phase 1 of the park development. Phase two
started in the fall of 2010 with the clearing of brush to the east which allowed the
sidewalk to be extended another 600 feet to make the lower level handicapped
accessible and to allow the planting of 100 additional trees. A brick pathway engraved
with local service people that have lost their lives (over 325 have been identified to
date) leads to a 50-foot block wall with a granite insert engraved with the major donors’
names. A short walkway on the hillside which will lead to another sculpture (“Going
Home”) has been completed and the bronze will be placed when funding is obtained. In
May 2012, the steps on the amphitheater were completed and handrails were installed
to assist visitors to the lower level where engraved pavers are located.
In the summer of 2013 an additional area was cleared on the western edge of
the park to allow an additional 425-foot sidewalk to be incorporated which will allow
over 100 more memorial trees to be planted. To date 331 trees have been planted,
seventy benches honoring veterans and over 500 pavers honor veterans from our
community. In August 2013 a picnic shelter was added near the west walkway to allow
families an opportunity to enjoy the facility even more. In 2016 a granite monument
was placed where every veteran from Webster County that has given their life for
freedom is listed – from the Civil War to today’s conflict in the Middle East. In the fall of
2017 the Gold Star Family Memorial was completed. The summer of 2021 brought
another impressive sculpture honoring Craig Hanrahan was erected. Based on the Air
Force memorial in Washington DC, the three spires are topped with hand made
aluminum F- 15’s. In the spring of 2022 monuments honoring those that served in the
Korean War and a Purple Heart recognition stone will be placed.
The park has become a destination spot for visitors to our community.
Throughout the year the park has hosted weddings, community gatherings and military
ceremonies on a regular basis. Our Sertoma Club has held pork chop dinners, movie
nights and an open house for Growth Alliance members at the facility. The total costs of
the improvements at the park are approaching $700,000 and new additions are being
planned to enhance the facility.
It has been an honor for the Fort Dodge Noon Sertoma and Webster County
Conservation to develop Veterans Memorial Park to show our gratitude for those that
have served and their families.
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