Mohave County veterans groups raising money to build new memorials
May 27, 2015, 5:00 AM | Updated: 6:13 am
A movement is underway in Kingman to build two new memorials honoring those who served and died in World War II, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Two groups are trying to raise $20,000 to build memorials for World War II and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mohave County already has a memorial to men and women who served in World War II, but there’s an issue.
“There’s close to 900 names on nameplates inside the Mohave County Courthouse,” said Terry Flanagan, the commandant of the Kingman Marine Corps League. “For various reasons, the nameplates can’t be put outside or used outside. Most people can’t see them since they’re in secure areas of the courthouse.”
So members of the Kingman Marine Corps League and the Jerry Ambrose Veterans Council have decided they want to build a World War II memorial near the Vietnam and Korean War memorials that are already in Kingman’s Veteran’s Memorial Park. Much like the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, the Kingman Memorial will have names engraved on granite walls.
Ambrose was a retired Marine captain who was instrumental in getting the Vietnam and Korean war memorials built in Kingman. He helped form the Mohave County Veteran’s Council, which voted to change its name to the Jerry Ambrose Veterans Council shortly after he died in 2010.
“They are any Mohave County resident who served in World War II,” said Flanagan.
The names will be the same as those on the name plates that are now in the courthouse. Flanagan said they do not have records as to who died and who returned from battle.
But they are not stopping with World War II. They also have plans for another wall honoring those who died more recently.
“Mohave County has lost eight members of our community in the war on terror,” said Flanagan. “We’ve lost four in Iraq and four in Afghanistan.”
They will be remembered with their names engraved on the Memorial for Iraq and Afghanistan. If all goes well, the memorials could be finished and open to the public later this year.
“We’re hoping to have them done and in place for a dedication on Veteran’s Day of this year,” Flanagan said.
If you would like to help, you can make a tax deductible donation.
