Veterans Memorial Garden, Lincoln

During the first week of June 1989, over 80,000 people gathered at Antelope Park to view the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall. The area where the “Wall” was located, originally a ball field, became a sacred area for many people and was never the same.

By 1991, the Persian Gulf War brought a new wave of pride and patriotism. As a result, communities, states and the nation as a whole banded together to give proper recognition and honor to veterans of that time, and ALL eras. Through efforts of the Lincoln community, the area was officially named the “Veteran’s Memorial Garden.”

The Veteran’s Memorial Garden Advisory Council was formed to recommend policy on issues relating to the development, design, programming and preservation of the Garden area and all memorials contained in the Garden. The Council is comprised of mayoral appointed members committed to creating a place and promoting events to honor all veterans and their families, past and present.

Through the Council, an endowment account has been established to help maintain the Garden.

Memorials

About 20 memorials stand in the Garden today including Airborne, After 1980, All Airmen, American Merchant Marine, China Burma India, Disabled American Veterans, Ex-Prisoners of War, Family, K-9 Unsung, Korea, Marine Corps, Military Medical, Peace Time, Pearl Harbor, Pre 1900, Purple Heart, Seabees, Special Forces, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy Armed Guard, Vietnam, Women’s Veterans, World War I and World War II. To learn more about each memorial, visit the City of Lincoln’s website: www.lincoln.ne.gov, keyword: Veteran.

Currently, one additional group is fundraising for monuments: Buffalo Soldiers/Tuskeegee Airmen.

Bricks of Remembrance: Eight monuments in the Garden allow bricks to be purchased and engraved. All proceeds from brick sales go to improvements and maintenance of the Veteran’s Memorial Garden. Please visit www.lincolnparks.org to purchase a brick online or call 402-441-8258.

Garden Events: Many events are held at the Veteran’s Memorial Garden recognizing special days like Memorial Day, Patriot Day, Veteran’s Day and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. On these and other holidays, all 46 flags are flying in commemoration.

The annual “June Celebration” is held on the 2nd Saturday in June to dedicate all new “Bricks of Remembrance” in the garden and to celebrate the existence of Lincoln’s unique Veteran’s Memorial Garden.

Veteran’s Memorial Garden Advisory Board: The Veteran’s Memorial Garden Advisory Council is comprised of 11 volunteer, mayoral appointed members, 7 of which must be Veterans. The board meets at 9am on the second Friday of January, April, July, and October, at the Antelope Park Enclosed Shelter.